The Great American Nude #92  relates to all of the events present in the timeline. Analyzing the details of this piece can aid in understanding its purpose. One can see a naked woman in her natural form. One can see her nipples and pubic hair. The woman is faceless except for her parted, red lips, which creates a sensual nature to the art. Her legs are open to the viewer, offering again a feeling of freeness, but also inviting the viewer. There is an animal print blanket underneath her. This could perhaps be offering a metaphor to the sexuality of a woman as to an animal and perhaps the societal attempt to “tame” women. There are flowers next to the subject that seem to be in full bloom, offering the viewer a sight at the inside of the flower, just like the subject is offering the viewer the same view of herself. Beside the flowers, there are oranges. Fruits represent earthly pleasures and temptation, which can be connected to the nude subject next to them. Wesselmann creates a statement with this in his art as he is showing a celebration of women’s sexuality and the call for women to have that freedom.

Understanding Wesselmann’s education allows us to see where he learned the knowledge that he used to create his art. The abstract class he took at Cooper Union and the focus on the nude female figure in the art created by Nicholas Marsicano, who Wesselmann studied under, are both present in this piece. Understanding the dynamic relationship he had with his wife, Claire Selley, who was his muse and model, also aids in explaining this piece. Knowing that strong bond they shared, one can understand his respect towards the female body from seeing the respect he had for his wife.

The political climate greatly contributes to the art piece as the piece is titled The Great American Nude. I find that Wesselmann could also relate to the protest of the draft as he was drafted and served stateside in the Korean War (Omeka, n.d.) Also, as previously stated, he was involved in a protest himself. And in his involvement, his piece centered around the voice of women affected by this war. I find that the political climate is influential to Wesselmann creating this piece as he had these strong feelings about the injustice in America, as seen in his offer to the protest. Those injustices not only being what is occurring in America with the Vietnam War, but specifically the effect this war would have on women.

This time in women’s history could also offer insight to Wesselmann’s The Great American Nude #92. Many women felt they were being restricted in their sexuality with the FDA approval of the birth control pill. Wesselmann’s art offers that the disapproval to the restriction of sexuality of a woman. Calling the America he details “great” in his piece, he is defining an America in which a woman has no restrictions within her sexuality. Wesselmann is making a statement that says, "This is what a great America is, not the America we live in." 

All Sources:

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A&E Television Networks. (n.d.). Vietnam War protests: Antiwar & Protest Songs. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/vietnam-war-protests

Broster, A. (2024, January 15). 60 years since the FDA’s approval of the Birth Control Pill. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicebroster/2020/05/09/60-years-since-the-...

Harford, T. (2017, May 21). The tiny pill which gave birth to an economic revolution. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39641856

Independence Hall Association. (n.d.). The antiwar movement. ushistory.org. https://www.ushistory.org/us/55d.asp

Nicholas Marsicano. Nicholas Marsicano - Artists - Spellman Gallery. (n.d.). https://www.spellmangallery.com/artists/nicholas-marsicano

Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). The pill and the Women’s Liberation Movement. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pill-and-womens-lib...

Tom Wesselmann. Gagosian. (2018, April 12). https://gagosian.com/artists/tom-wesselmann/

Tom Wesselmann. Omeka RSS. (n.d.). https://michiganintheworld.history.lsa.umich.edu/popart1963/exhibits/sho...

Tom Wesselmann. Sothebys.com. (n.d.). https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2015/contemporary-curate...

Walleston, A. (2017, December 18). Wife and muse: Claire Wesselmann on Tom Wesselmann. ARTnews.com. https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/interviews/claire-wesselman-56102/

Walsh, K. T. (2010, March 12). The 1960s: A Decade of Change for Women. U.S. News and World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/03/12/the-1960s-a-decade-of-ch...

Wesselmann, Tom. Great American Nude #92. 1967. https://www.tomwesselmannestate.org/artwork/1960s/. Accessed 24 Feb 2024.