Study for Spread Leg Nude

"It is pertinent to remember that in the early sixties nudity in American media was still rare and demure. There were not yet magazines publicly available that showed women openly displaying their genitals. Such magazines were, in fact, illegal; and it wasn’t until around 1965 or 1966 that Wesselmann even saw one. Wesselmann took his spread leg nudes as an aggressive image and also as an expression of his joy at rediscovering sex, following the breakup of his first marriage. He was irritated with critics that spoke of the nudes as girly magazine material. The nudes were an expression of his delight at discovering that his girl friend would make such gestures and poses naturally, as a part of sexual pleasure and communication" (Slim Stealingworth, Tom Wesselmann, New York 1980, p. 23).