The representation of the nude body has been an important element of human expression for centuries. In the context of Western art history, one of the earliest known portrayals is the Venus of Willendorf, which dates to approximately 24,000 BCE. Subsequently, mosaic artwork depicted Narcissus in a latrine from the second century. During the early Renaissance, Italy’s interest in nudes encompassed Michelangelo’s David and Manet’s provocative Olympia, showcasing a real woman instead of a mythological character.

As society moved towards sharing intimate visuals through platforms such as Snapchat, our intrigue with the human form remained steadfast. The proliferation of smartphones and social media has elevated the exchange of intimate content, with studies from 2024 revealing that eight out of ten adults partake in such exchanges.

We have investigated the evolution of the nude, spanning from sculpture to oil paintings, and from cam-chat to Snapchat, examining the reasons behind our ongoing sharing of nudes in various modalities.

The sharing of nudes frequently coincides with explicit messages or interactions. Historically, forbidden letters were passed, especially by married women corresponding with unmarried men, as highlighted by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Very few of these letters remain due to censorship and destruction. The capacity to send such exchanges was restricted by literacy rates during the Middle Ages.

In contemporary times, the act of sending nudes can be traced back to American portraitist Sarah Goodridge, who portrayed her bare breasts for Daniel Webster in 1828. This moment is regarded as a pivotal point in human sexuality, as it indicated a transition towards more personal and accessible forms of nude representation.

The advent of photography in 1839 significantly altered the representation of the nude form. Trailblazers like Hippolyte Bayard and Nadar played a crucial role in this transformation. The emergence of personal cameras and smartphones has drastically changed our understanding of sexuality, ushering in the age of sexting and cam chats.

The lines between art and pornography have become increasingly indistinct. Initiatives like Pornhub’s Classic Nude have raised questions regarding the boundary between artistic expression and explicit content. The discourse continues, with technological progress enhancing access to and sharing of the nude form.

With the ubiquity of smartphones, the capability to capture, send, and receive nude photographs has become commonplace. Research indicates that sending nudes is often prevalent in committed relationships as a method of expressing sexual desires. However, there are risks linked to digital intimacy, including concerns over privacy and nonconsensual sharing.

The UK’s age verification legislation, which mandates proof of age for explicit content, has elicited a range of responses. As digital lives expand, the sharing of nudes is expected to persist, even as societal attitudes shift.