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Women/men as appealing subjects
I can't help noticing, as figurative art enjoys a resurgence, that the young, attractive female is extremely popular as subject matter. Paintings of scantily clothed and nude young women are ubiquitous. Everywhere I look, they are around. I have a feeling they sell really well, too. Even portraits of clothed women attract lots of attention.
I'm wondering about men as subject matter. I see a lot of formal, professional portraits of men, but what about men as attractive and appealing subjects? I know they exist, but I don't see them as often as I do female subjects. Why is this?
Since this is not the Nudes Section, I am, of course, using clothed subjects to illustrate this thread. I'm posting two portraits from the same period (Renaissance), one of a woman, one of a man.
1) Federico Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, by Titian, c. 1529
2) Lady With an Ermine, by Leonardo Da Vinci, c. 1485
Both of these people have, I think, some kind of appeal, or allure. I'm wondering whether this appealing quality has a lot to do with the artist's eye, i.e. the way the artist responds to the subject. And I'm wondering why I see so many more attractive women than attractive men as subjects. Do they sell better? If so, why?
Do you agree or disagree? Please feel free to post examples.
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