In the book by Georges Vigarello, a professor at Paris V University and author of numerous works on the representation and cultural history of the body, the evolution of the concept of physical beauty in Europe is traced—from the Renaissance to the present day. What kind of body was considered beautiful, and which was deemed unattractive? What body care practices were valued in different eras? How have pop culture and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle influenced perceptions of beauty? How enduring is the ideal that sometimes leads to broken lives?

Using materials from visual arts, literature, medical and aesthetic treatises, press, cinema, and advertising, Georges Vigarello constructs a fascinating exploration that provides answers to these questions.