In the visual arts of the Early Modern period, female pubic hair was mostlyconsidered indecorous, troublesome, or even indecent because it highlightedone's most intimate parts. In treatises and medical literature ofthat period, it was perceived In addition to these rather unbecomingconnotations, this article will address and propose more positive ideassurrounding a particular set of depictions of pubic hair that referenced aspecific artistic model. I will show that Marcantonio Raimondi'sapplication of pubic hair to some of his female nudes, created between 1506and 1508, becomes a highly significant detail that should be seen inconnection with his imitation and emulation of Albrecht Dürer.Marcantonio's different approach to pubic hair indicates also itspotential as a field of artistic experimentation.

In real life, body hair, including pubic hair, defines or marks physicaldifferences, in particular between human and animal, male and female, adultand child, even though such an understanding should be applied to the visualarts only with caution. Individual case studies have shown that theunderstandings of depictions of pubic hair could vary depending on time andplace, hold nuanced meanings, and be conditioned by very differentconsiderations.