The perception of beauty has changed considerably over time when crafting the principles of boudoir photography. In the Renaissance period, people were beguiled by paintings such as Sandro Botticelli‘s “The Birth of Venus”, and were either enthused with admiration or overcome with revulsion at the sight of these voluptuous Renaissance women who were sparsely clothed. In the golden age of Spain, Diego Velázquez painted the famous “Toilet of Venus”, which depicted women as being sentient of their own reflection, their sexuality and their mystique. These paintings compelled artists and individuals for many centuries. Here, we explore the fascinating stories of how societies and cultures came to accept the idea of boudoir photography that was for a long time, a taboo subject.

In 1921, Fox Studios produced a silent movie based on the story of an ill-fated romance between the King Solomon of Israel and the Queen of Sheba. In the movie, Betty Blythe played the Queen of Sheba, and was partially nude, dressed in extravagant see-through garments, and covered with diamonds and pearls. The picture, although controversial at the time, is revered by many to this day, and is widely seen as a symbol of feminine power.