The Human Figure: A Photographic Reference for Artists [Paperback]

E. A. Ruby (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1979 | ISBN-10: 0471289493 | ISBN-13: 978-0471289494 | Edition: 1

Now you can draw from your own life model anytime you want without paying expensive models' fees! This handy volume contains over 600 detailed anatomical photographs for artists to study and draw from. Subjects included are male and female, and the models range in age from two years old to ninety years old. All together, seventeen different models were photographed, in the most useful and instructive poses for the artist. They are shown clothed and unclothed, full-figure and in closeup, in classical poses and in action, and in a wide variety of views--the standing male and female models, for instance, were photographed from eight different angles in a 360-degree circle. Sections one and two, covering the male and female nude figure, include photographic representation of running, walking, standing, sitting, and reclining, as well as detail studies of head, hands, and feet. Section three shows close-ups of facial expressions: joy, pain, surprise, etc., as well as sequences of expressions such as the transition from slight annoyance to great anger. In this section too are found details of a variety of heads, hands, eyes and noses, mouths, and ears. Section four is composed of photographs of a two-year-old child.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Now you can draw from your own life model anytime you want without paying expensive models’ fees! This handy volume contains over 600 detailed anatomical photographs for artists to study and draw from. Subjects included are male and female, and the models range in age from two years old to ninety years old. All together, seventeen different models were photographed, in the most useful and instructive poses for the artist. They are shown clothed and unclothed, full-figure and in closeup, in classical poses and in action, and in a wide variety of views—the standing male and female models, for instance, were photographed from eight different angles in a 360-degree circle. Sections one and two, covering the male and female nude figure, include photographic representation of running, walking, standing, sitting, and reclining, as well as detail studies of head, hands, and feet. Section three shows close-ups of facial expressions: joy, pain, surprise, etc., as well as sequences of expressions such as the transition from slight annoyance to great anger. In this section too are found details of a variety of heads, hands, eyes and noses, mouths, and ears. Section four is composed of photographs of a two-year-old child.

Product Details

• Paperback: 338 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (March 1, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471289493
• ISBN-13: 978-0471289494
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 11 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,598,637 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Human Figure, July 26, 2000

By 

T. Stocks (Coarsegold, California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Human Figure: A Photographic Reference for Artists (Paperback)

This book has some interesting poses and there were an equal number of male and female photos but that's about where the praise ends. This would be a better book for reference had there been a variety of different models. Another problem is the fact that the male model is wearing something that interferes with the lines of his body. This book is also somewhat difficult to use because of the layout. With every turn of the page some of the pictures are upside down and some are rightside up and some are sideways. So you are constantly flipping the book around to view the photos. There are other better reference books available.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good reference, March 21, 2001

By 

Chess Heart "paxbear" (Canton, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Human Figure: A Photographic Reference for Artists (Paperback)

Due to it's size and the fact that real, live humans were photographed (vs. drawings), this is a good reference for both the beginning and advanced artist who may not have access to a live model. Personally, I find that drawing from a real human is the best way to draw, followed by a photograph of a live person, with drawings of people being last on the list.

I will echo the other comments of past reviewers: the book is good but needed to have a greater variety of models, a better layout of photographs and an honest-to-goodness nude male model. People come in all shapes and sizes and colors and a greater range of people and poses would have been more helpful. The photographs are laid out at all different angles, meaning you have to move the book all over just to LOOK at which photo you'd like to sketch. Finally, the male is wearing an athletic supporter that interrupts the lines of his body. This is not a terribly big concern, but it's annoying and silly looking nonetheless. If one paid their money to sketch a live male model, you can bet he wouldn't be sporting something as ridiculous looking as a jock strap. Is this some sort of penis fear on behalf of the author?? Certainly there's nothing erotic about these poses and I doubt that anyone looking to be titillated would spend the money for an artists' reference book...

There are other references that are better (or at least more varied or not requiring the reader to stand on their heads to read it), but if you're collecting model books, this is worth adding to your collection.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good reference, December 20, 2003

By 

T. Reinhardt "olivia lee" (east coast) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Human Figure: A Photographic Reference for Artists (Paperback)

This is not a new book and I have had it for many years. While I don't think there is enough variety (in models and positions) to make it a great book I have found it to be a useful reference quite a number of times. I do wish that the lighting had been stronger to give sharper shading in general for muscle definition.

It doesn't have the variety or sheer number of options available in the *pose file* series but quite a few pictures are fairly large in this book which is very nice. If you do find a shot that works for you than this is a very nice book to have.

I think this would be a good adjunt book if you already own several. I wouldn't make this your only figure book or your first one...unless you happen on it and find a figure in here that you wish to draw. this book isn't an instuction book on how to draw as much as it is a nude figure reference.