Body Parts

Artworks that emphasize parts of the human body. The isolation of certain body parts has served various purposes throughout the history of art. These have included the contemplation of the beautiful or the erotic, observation of the intricacies or functions of the human body, and reflection on mortality, death, or dismemberment. Certain body parts—particularly eyes, hands, feet, and lips—are more commonly represented than others, however what is (and what is not) represented is highly dependent on the specific culture in which the art is created.