Naked Men: Pioneering Male Nudes, 1935-1955
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Author Description
This extraordinary book documents a fascinating moment in the history of American culture--a period in the 1930's, 40's, and 50's that gave birth to new notions of male beauty and desire, and to a new type of male icon. Long before Stonewall and the gay pride movement, there was a small group of daring men--both photographers and the models who sat for them--who helped pave the way for male sexual liberation. Led by the photographer George Platt Lynes, the painter Paul Cadmus, and the arts patron Lincoln Kirstein, this group shattered taboos surrounding the artistic presentation of the male figure. The young subjects of these photographs--who often posed after-hours in studios officially used for fashion shoots--were in essence the first true male models. In a perfect complement to the intimacy of these early nudes, photographs are included of these men today. The pictures and stories in "Naked Men" are as relevant and evocative today as they were a half a century ago.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates a pivotal, yet often overlooked, period in American cultural history that redefined male beauty and desire through artistic photography. The work explores the daring contributions of photographers and models between the 1930s and 1950s, predating the gay pride movement, who challenged societal taboos regarding the male form. Spearheaded by figures like George Platt Lynes, Paul Cadmus, and Lincoln Kirstein, this group utilized studio spaces, often originally for fashion, to create intimate and evocative male nudes. The book also includes contemporary photographs of these men, bridging the past and present of male modeling and representation.
THE SCOPE MAP
- Exploration of the artistic presentation of the male figure during a specific historical period (1935-1955).
- Focus on the pioneering photographers and models who contributed to new notions of male beauty and desire.
- Highlights the roles of key figures such as George Platt Lynes, Paul Cadmus, and Lincoln Kirstein.
- Details the context of male sexual liberation prior to the gay pride movement.
- Includes photographs from the era and contemporary images of the subjects.
- Examines the emergence of the male model as a distinct icon.
- Discusses the shattering of taboos surrounding the artistic depiction of the male body.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
The book is recognized for its documentation of a significant, yet under-examined, moment in American cultural and artistic history, focusing on the evolution of male beauty and desire through photography. It is noted for its exploration of the pioneering efforts of artists and models who challenged prevailing norms regarding the male nude. The inclusion of both historical and contemporary images provides a unique perspective on the enduring impact of this period. The work is seen as a valuable contribution to understanding the cultural shifts leading up to and influencing later movements for sexual liberation.
Page Count:
128
Publication Date:
1997-01-01
Publisher:
Universe Pub.
ISBN-10:
0789300796
ISBN-13:
9780789300799
History
Photography
Art
Non-Fiction
Cultural History
Art History
1950s
1930s
