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DAY 219 | ARTISTIC ODDITIES |
Fig Leaves
COVER THINE NAKEDNESS
“Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.”
—Genesis 3:7 Holy Bible NRSV: Catholic Edition
With that one simple verse, the fig leaf became a symbol of censorship and has been used for ages to cover up not just nakedness, but anything that “the powers that be” might find offensive.
Following the Renaissance, a movement toward modesty and propriety resulted in the application of fig leaves over paintings, sculptures, and any other art that showcased exposed genitals. Even the ...
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