1960年代，美國普普藝術在藝術或媚俗的爭議之際迸發，同時，Tom Wesselmann（1931-2004）亦憑藉《偉大美國裸體》（Great American Nude）獲得名聲，並且被視為普普藝術家。「裸體」是歐洲藝術史上歷時源遠的題材，《偉》系列更展現了美國化的裸女。隨著Wesselmann逐漸對情色感到興趣，他展現具情色攻擊性與視覺衝擊的作品，也顯示60年代的性改革所帶至的影響。故而，本文以《偉》系列為主要對象，除了探究Wesselmann如何以情色為導向，描繪其理想的裸女形式以外，也藉著60年代美國文化的變革擴大對《偉》系列的詮釋。
首先，本文以Wesselmann的創作生涯為出發點，呈現其早期作品與普普藝術的關係，再透過與傳統繪畫的呼應，突顯Wesselmann有意針對前輩藝術家的挑戰。第二章則討論60年代的新興都會生活，檢視Wesselmann 納入當代元素烘托《偉》系列的創作背景。經由與畫報女郎的對照，強調《偉》系列如何將去人性化的裸女視為一個普遍性的比喻。最後，第三章進入物化與拜物課題，討論相關的延伸作品，彰顯Wesselmann創作思維的連貫性。《偉》系列做為Wesselmann第一個完整的系列作，以幽默的標題與內容展現他對藝術與社會文化的回應；十二年的創作歷程經過多次轉化，遂使裸女承古創新，也以獨特的性徵描繪方式成就其情色衷旨。 ;In the 1960s, Pop art emerged from the controversy over the mixture of fine art and kitsch. In the early 60s, Tom Wesselmann (1931-2004) gained fame by the Great American Nudes, and was considered as the Pop artist. “Nude” is an enduring theme in European art. Great American Nude attempted to Americanize the traditional subject of the female nude. Wesselmann became more and more interested in the erotic aspects of the body after he began producing the series. He viewed art as aggressive, and used eroticism to make his paintings both erotically aggressive and visually compelling. The erotic Great American Nudes not only renewed the traditional subject but also reflected the sexual revolution in 1960s. My study focuses on the Great American Nudes, examining how Wesselmann depicted the erotic nude. The relation between Great American Nude and the cultural change is central to my study.
First, this dissertation studies the career of Wesselmann to present the connection between his early works and Pop art. Then, I emphasize Wesselmann’s intention to challenge the artists of previous generations. In chapter two, I examine the thriving urban life of the 60s as the creative background of Wesselmann’s adoption of the modern elements for this series. Through comparing the Great American Nudes with the pinup girl, I focus on how the artist transformed the dehumanized figure into a generalized nude. Finally, chapter three is concerned with the topic of objectification and fetishism. Through discussing the eroticism in the extended works in the later phase, I stress the coherence of Wesselmann’s creative thinking. The Great American Nudes, as Wesselmann’s first complete serial work, reveals his response to art and culture through a humorous title and content. After various transformation over twelve years, he made the female nude an icon combining tradition and innovation, and presented the idea of eroticism through his unique style.
