The book explores how artists transmute the physical human body into an idealized form, demonstrating how the nude in art transcends mere anatomical representation to become a vehicle for expressing cultural ideals, philosophical concepts, and artistic vision.

Clark meticulously traces the development of nude representation through various artistic periods, from classical antiquity through the Renaissance to modern interpretations, showing how each era's cultural values and artistic innovations shaped the treatment of the nude.

The work examines how the nude figure has served as a barometer of society's attitudes toward the human body, sexuality, and beauty, reflecting changing moral, religious, and philosophical perspectives throughout Western civilization.