Waypoint 13

19th-20th Century Vegetarian-Naturism Movements

As industrialisation reshaped societies in 19th and 20th centuries, movements advocating for a return to nature and simple living emerged in reaction to urbanisation and capitalism’s excesses. Among these were the interconnected philosophies of naturism and vegetarianism, which promoted physical health, spiritual well-being, and a rejection of artificial constraints imposed by modern life.

Rise of Naturist Thought and Vegetarian Advocacy

In United States, 19th century saw a growing interest in natural living, dietary reform and personal well-being, influenced by thinkers such as Sylvester Graham, Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman. While Graham advocated for vegetarianism and whole foods as a response to industrialised diets, Thoreau’s writings celebrated simplicity and self-sufficiency in harmony with nature and Whitman championed physical vitality and deep connection to the body and the natural world. Simultaneously, in Europe, vegetarian movements gained traction as part of broader social and moral reform efforts. British Vegetarian Society, founded in 1847, emphasised ethical eating, personal health and a deeper connection to the natural world. An emerging naturist philosophy was emphasising moral and physical benefits of a life aligned with nature.

Intentional communities sought to integrate physical well-being with social and economic justice, often inspired by utopian ideals. Many such communities promoted vegetarianism as a means of fostering compassion, self-discipline and harmony with nature. The vegetarian movement also found supporters among advocates of workers’ rights, anti-industrialisation movements and feminist reformers, who saw dietary choices as intertwined with broader concerns about labour conditions, food purity and social equity. As industrialisation transformed Western society, vegetarianism became a symbol of resistance against the exploitation of both humans and animals.

Nudist Clubs and the Free Body Culture

As part of this broader return-to-nature ethos, nudist organisations began forming in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Germany played a particularly significant role in this movement with the development of Freikörperkultur (Free Body Culture, or FKK), which promoted communal nudity as a means of fostering physical health and freedom from societal constraints. These ideas spread across Europe and beyond, influencing similar clubs and societies in Britain, France and North America. Nudist colonies and clubs emerged as spaces for individuals to reconnect with nature and reject restrictive clothing norms. Early naturists promoted sunbathing, outdoor recreation and vegetarian diets as a way to counteract the stresses of modern urban living.

India’s Digambara Jain Monks: A Source of Inspiration?

Whilst European naturists saw themselves as pioneers, similar traditions had long existed in other cultures. The Digambara Jain monks of India had practiced ritual nudity for centuries, seeing it as an expression of detachment from material possessions and worldly distractions. Their beliefs emphasised non-violence (ahimsa), strict vegetarianism and spiritual enlightenment. Some historians suggest that early European naturists may have drawn inspiration from such traditions when formulating their philosophies.

Illustration Idea: Archival photos or drawings of early 20th-century nudist communities, depicting the emergence of organized naturism and its links to vegetarian movements and anti-industrialisation protests.