Fig leaf

Fig leaf

A fig leaf is the covering up of an act or an object that is embarrassing or disagreeable. The term is a metaphorical reference to the Biblical Book of Genesis, in which Adam and Eve used fig leaves to cover "their nakedness" after eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

History

In Ancient Greek art, male nakedness, including the genitals, was common, although the female vulval area was generally covered in art for public display. This tradition continued in Ancient Roman art until the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity, when heroic nudity vanished. During the Middle Ages, the nude was replaced by the naked [cite book |first=Kenneth |last=Clark |title=The Nude, A Study in Ideal Form |date=1956 |isbn=0691017883 |publisher=Princeton University Press] and only the unfortunate (most often the damned) were usually shown naked, although the depictions were then often rather explicit. Adam and Eve were often shown wearing fig or other leaves, following the Biblical description. This was especially a feature of Northern Renaissance art. From about 1530, the developing reaction to Renaissance freedoms and excesses that led to the Council of Trent also led to a number of artworks, especially in churches or public places, being altered to reduce the amount of nudity on display. Often, as in the famous case of Michelangelo's "The Last Judgement", drapery or extra branches from any nearby bush was used. For free-standing statues this did not work well, and carved or cast fig leaves were sometimes added, such as with the plaster copy of Michelangelo's "David" displayed in Victorian era London. [cite web |url= http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/sculpture/stories/david/index.html |title= David's Fig Leaf |work= Object Stories |publisher= Victoria and Albert Museum |accessdate= 2007-05-29] The Adam and Eve panels on the Ghent Altarpiece, already equipped with fig leaves by Jan van Eyck, were simply replaced with 19th century panels copying the figures but clothed. Many of these alterations have since been reversed, damaging some of the statues.

Modern day

Eugen Sandow, often considered the first modern-day bodybuilder, was an admirer of the human physique, and in addition to strongman sideshows, he performed "muscle displays" by posing in the nude — save for a fig leaf that he would don in imitation of statues he had seen in Italy as a boy.cite web |last= Anderson |first= R. Christian |url= http://www.sandowmuseum.com/page7.html |title= Sandow Wearing a Figleaf |publisher= SandowMuseum.com |accessdate= 2007-05-29]

Metaphorical use

The expression "fig leaf" has a pejorative metaphorical sense meaning a cover for any thing or behaviour that might be considered shameful, with the implication that the cover is only a token gesture and the truth is obvious to all who choose to see it.

In the context of negotiation, an offer might be characterized as a "fig leaf" if that offer is actually a ploy to conceal a sinister plan.

ee also

*Expurgation

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • fig leaf — 1. The leaf from a fig tree. [PJC] 2. An ornamental design shaped like the leaf of a fig tree, used in architecture; also, a design shaped like a fig leaf to cover genitalia in sculpture or paintings in reference to the biblical story in Genesis… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fig leaf — fig leaves 1) N COUNT A fig leaf is a large leaf which comes from the fig tree. A fig leaf is sometimes used in painting and sculpture to cover the genitals of a naked body. 2) N COUNT: usu with supp (disapproval) People sometimes refer… …   English dictionary

  • Fig leaf — Fig Fig (f[i^]g), n. [F. figue the fruit of the tree, Pr. figa, fr. L. ficus fig tree, fig. Cf. {Fico}.] 1. (Bot.) A small fruit tree ({Ficus Carica}) with large leaves, known from the remotest antiquity. It was probably native from Syria… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fig leaf — fig ,leaf noun count 1. ) a leaf from a FIG tree. You often see a fig leaf covering the sex organs of people in paintings. 2. ) something that hides another thing that is considered morally wrong …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • fig leaf — fig′ leaf n. 1) pln the leaf of a fig tree 2) fia a representation of a fig leaf, esp. a cover for the genitalia on a statue or in a painting 3) something intended to conceal what may be considered improper …   From formal English to slang

  • fig leaf — n. 1. a leaf of a fig tree 2. a representation of such a leaf used, as in sculpture, to conceal the genitals of a nude 3. anything intended to conceal …   English World dictionary

  • fig leaf — ► NOUN ▪ a leaf of a fig tree used to conceal the genitals in paintings and sculpture. ORIGIN with reference to the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible, who made clothes out of fig leaves after becoming aware of their nakedness …   English terms dictionary

  • fig leaf — n the large leaf of the fig tree, sometimes shown in paintings as covering people s sex organs …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • fig leaf — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms fig leaf : singular fig leaf plural fig leaves 1) a leaf from a fig tree. You often see a fig leaf covering the sex organs of people in paintings. 2) something that hides another thing that is considered… …   English dictionary

  • fig leaf — 1. the leaf of a fig tree. 2. a representation of a fig leaf, used as an ornament in architecture, as a cover for the genitalia on a statue or in a painting, etc. 3. something intended to conceal what may be considered indecorous or indecent: to… …   Universalium

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