The Culture of Reception and Aesthetic Conception of Vietnamese Nudes from Traditional to Modern

Abstract

The study focuses on investigating the transformation in the culture of reception and aesthetic conception of nude painting in Vietnam from the traditional to the modern period. By taking an interdisciplinary approach between art history, cultural studies, and aesthetics, the work explores the process of change in society's attitude towards the human form in art, associated with changes in morality, thought, and social context. In the traditional period, the representation of the human body is strongly governed by Confucian ethics, ritual symbols, and community norms of modesty. On the contrary, Vietnamese modern art, especially since the beginning of the twentieth century, has shown the harmony and collision between Western artistic influences, creative individualism and national cultural identity. Through figurative analysis, discourse and aesthetic comparison, the study shows that nude painting is not only a pure artistic phenomenon but also a cultural discourse that reflects the transformation in values, gender perceptions and openness of Vietnamese society.