Since it’s inaugural issue, the Fig Leaf has been a part of Natural Pursuits’ logo. As we unveil our new collaboration with Guelmo Rosa, featuring fig leaf jewelry, we also want to explore the history of this iconic symbol in art and how it has transformed from concealing art deemed ‘indecent’ to embodying modern ideals of body neutrality and self-acceptance.
FIG LEAF PENDANT
We are thrilled to unveil our jewelry collaboration with Guelmo Rosa. This pendant necklace, adorned with a brass fig leaf and a pearl, serves as a subtle homage to nudism and body neutrality. It’s a design that not only celebrates individuality but also the innate beauty of the human form.
While we are finalizing the design details, including the chain, we couldn’t be happier with the way this piece has come together. Please note that we will offer a limited run of 25 of these necklaces. Keep your eyes peeled for when they become available.
Limited Item
Fig Leaf Pendant
WHY THE FIG LEAF
Prior to the 1500s, the Roman Catholic Church and Roman culture had celebrated the nude form, viewing it as a symbol of purity and honor. This approach was influenced by ancient Greek art, which revered the chiseled, nude body. Nudity, in this context, was a representation of artistic virtue.
In the Renaissance era there was a marked shift. The fig leaf was employed in the ‘Fig Leaf Campaign’ as a tool of concealment, meant to mask nudity and safeguard against what was considered immodest or obscene. This campaign, driven by the Vatican, signified a shift away from the classical appreciation of the nude form in art towards more conservative ideals.
In 1563, the Council of Trent launched the ‘Fig Leaf Campaign’ in Italy, hiding penises and pubic hair on various artworks across the country. The fig leaf was the chosen medium for this widespread art censorship based on Genesis (3:7) where Adam and Eve cover their nakedness with an apron of fig leaves. In his commentary on Genesis, the late Roman bishop and theologian Augustine hypothesized these leaves symbolized lying. The monk known as Venerable Bede noted that they were a symbol of the tendency to sin.
The catalyst for change came with the Counter-Reformation, during which the Vatican began to label nudity as immodest and obscene. This shift was prompted by the need to counter the rise of Protestantism and the belief that religious figures should not be depicted in a state of undress. As a result, the Vatican initiated the censorship campaign, focusing initially on Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David.
In the 1540s, the Pope commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel, but the nudity in his artwork faced strong criticism from powerful clergymen. In response to these concerns, Michelangelo’s Last Judgment was heavily censored. Cardinal Carafa, a leading clergyman, and Biagio da Cesena, the Pope’s master of ceremonies, vociferously condemned the fresco, stating it was more suitable for ‘public baths and taverns’ than a chapel.
This growing condemnation of nudity in art led to a wide-ranging effort to censor and cover statues’ genitals using fig leaves. Michelangelo was even compelled to repaint some of his works to align them with the Vatican’s new standards.
The fig leaf campaign extended well beyond Italy. When the plaster cast of David was presented to Queen Victoria, she was shocked by the statue’s nudity. To align it with the Victorian era’s sensibilities, a large detachable fig leaf was created to conceal David’s penis.
While the fig leaf campaign was a historic event in the censorship of art and nudity, it ultimately stifled the rawness and artistry of renaissance painters. Fortunately, over the last 40 years, efforts have been made to restore artworks like Masaccio’s Expulsion from the Garden of Eden and Michelangelo’s Last Judgment, removing the fig leaves and allowing the original artistry to shine through. However, the orthodox beliefs regarding nudity persist in the Roman Catholic Church.
The fig leaves are being stripped from artwork to reveal the artists intentions, but the long history of censorship have made the fig leaf synonymous with nudity.
THE FIG LEAF AND NATURAL PURSUITS
The fig leaf’s inclusion in Natural Pursuits’ logo originally represented the project’s commitment to the innate value and beauty of the human form. In essence, when people see fig leaves, they think of nudism. Over the course of the five years we’ve run this project, it has also come to symbolize our own battle against censorship.
Our experiences this year parallel the historical ‘Fig Leaf Campaign.’ In April, Natural Pursuits received a notice from its former payment processor, raising questions about the project’s compliance with the processor’s policy on “adult content and services.” This notice specifically mentioned the restrictions against “pornography and other mature audience content (including literature, imagery, and other media) depicting nudity or explicit sexual acts.” This implied a blurring of the lines between artistic nudity and pornography. The modern world still clutches its pearls at the thought of naked bodies.
Given the project’s clear involvement with nudity, it became necessary to find a new website and payment processor to continue promoting self-expression, body neutrality, and queer art.
The fig leaf’s placement in Natural Pursuits’ logo is strategic. It doesn’t conceal anything; it’s cast aside, allowing our bodies to be clearly visible. It symbolizes the project’s unwavering dedication to authenticity. By proudly embracing this symbol, Natural Pursuits stands in solidarity not only with nudists but also with artists and art history. These artists, once subjected to censorship, now have their works revealed in their unadulterated glory.
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