So, David painted this in 1964, when he was living in California, and was infatuated with the beautiful bodies of the guys there. He tended to paint wet naked men during this time, and it was then that he perfected his realistic style for which he became known.
As I look at this painting, I think about how he must have finally felt at peace in his life. He was able to embrace his sexual preference, and lived openly as a gay man. To gain that sense of freedom HAD to have given his creative energy a huge boost! I like the use of colors in this; the living room scene in the background draws the eye in a subtle way.
I have a Psychology background, and find it very interesting that his wet man has such an ambiguous face; one that you can't quite make out. It's almost as if he is saying that any man would do. It's quite obvious to the viewer that the most important, intriguing part of the picture to David is the guy's butt. It's much lighter in color than the rest of the man's body, suggesting a healthy tan. However, it also highlights the "prize", so to speak.
I'm not a gay man, but can absolutely appreciate a healthy, good looking body. I think that David did a great job with this picture.
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