Renaissance
- Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa (1503-1519): Iconic portrait of a woman with an enigmatic smile, showcasing subtle nuances of human expression.
- Michelangelo, David (1501-1504): Marble sculpture considered a masterpiece of the human form, capturing the ideal proportions and musculature of the male body.
Baroque
- Caravaggio, Judith Beheading Holofernes (1598): Dramatic depiction of the biblical story, featuring realistic and expressive portrayal of human anatomy.
- Rembrandt, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (1632): Group portrait focusing on the dissection of a corpse, showcasing anatomical details and the fascination with human body in the era.
Neoclassicism
- Jacques-Louis David, The Death of Marat (1793): Political statement painting depicting the assassination of a revolutionary figure, with emphasis on the vulnerable and naked human body.
- Antonio Canova, Venus Italica (1804-1808): Marble sculpture based on the ancient Greek statue of the goddess Venus, emphasizing idealized beauty and perfect proportions.
Romanticism
- Francisco Goya, The Naked Maja (1797-1800): Provocative portrait of a nude woman, exploring the themes of sensuality, vulnerability, and the power of the gaze.
- Théodore Géricault, The Raft of the Medusa (1818-1819): Tragic depiction of shipwrecked survivors, highlighting the desperation and resilience of the human body in extreme conditions.
Impressionism
- Edgar Degas, The Dance Class (1871-1874): Series of paintings capturing the graceful and fluid movements of ballet dancers.
- Pierre-Auguste Renoir, The Grandes Baigneuses (1884-1887): Nudes in a landscape, emphasizing the beauty and sensuality of the female form.
Post-Impressionism
- Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night (1889): Expressionist landscape with swirling clouds and a crescent moon, capturing the emotional intensity and distortion of the human experience.
- Paul Cézanne, The Bathers (1894-1895): Series of paintings focusing on the geometric simplification of the human body, exploring the relationship between form and perception.
Modernism
- Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907): Cubist masterpiece deconstructing the human form into geometric planes, challenging traditional notions of representation.
- Salvador Dalí, The Dream (1931): Surreal painting featuring melting clocks and distorted human figures, exploring the subconscious mind and the fluidity of the human body.
Contemporary
- Jenny Saville, Strategy (1992): Figural painting depicting a massive, reclining female body, exploring themes of weight, scale, and the female gaze.
- Ron Mueck, A Girl (1999): Hyperrealistic sculpture of a newborn girl, capturing the fragility and vulnerability of the human body in minute detail.