Naked Men: Pioneering Male Nudes 1935-1955

David Leddick, who has given us many books on the naked male, had a brilliant idea for this one: he would put together a book of photographs of nude models from 1935 to 1955 and include recent photographs of the men as close to the time of publication of this book (1997) as possible. The result is a stunning success. There is a foreward by Quentin Crisp, a male model, himself, for art classes in England in the 1930's (THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT) and a long, sometimes wordy introduction by Mr. Leddick. Of more interest, at least to me, is the biographical information about each of the models, their occupations, whether they married or not, what they are doing now and if they are alive--most of them were at the time Mr. Leddick began his research.Many of the photographs are by George Platt Lynes, who apparently never took a bad picture and to whom every subsequent photographer of the nude male owes a tremendous debt. No photographer since Lynes has lit the human body with such skill and beauty.There are unknown models here but some big names as well: Tennessee Williams, the very straight but most unshy Yul Brynner, Donald Windham, Christopher Isherwood, the famous artist Paul Cadmus, the photographer Horst as well as George Platt Lynes, himself.Two of my favorite photographs: that of Umberto Visbal, a darkroom and studio assistant for Lynes in the early 1950's-- outrageously sexual (p. 127), and Carlos McLendon (p. 87) shot in September 1947; here we have a photograph beautifully composed and printed with many shades of gray.My favorite quote from the written material: Bill Harris (pp. 94-95) saying that he never frequented a bathhouse again after hearing someone say: "See that little old Chinese woman over there? That used to be the handsomest man in New York." The writer Camus may have been correct when he said that after the age of 40, we are all responsible for our own faces. He could have included our bodies as well.

David Leddick's "Naked Men" is a most unusual collection of nude photography. Leddick's expressed intent is to chronicle the early history of photographing unclothed men, and he sets about it in two divergent ways. The narrative centers around the photographer George Platt Lynes (1907-1955), the creator of many of the photographs reproduced in the volume, and his circle of like-minded friends in early twentieth-century New York, including the artist Paul Cadmus (still living), and the recently deceased arts impresario Lincoln Kirstein.Although the pictures of course hold a strong homoerotic appeal and many of the subjects were romantically and physically entwined with their photographers and each other, the book is not a gay history. In fact, there is not enough history included in the text, which is framed by large expanses of blank page and ceases for much of the book. The inclusion of brief histories and present-day, or at least more recent, photographs of the models is Leddick's second main innovation, and is indeed effective--the juxtaposition of the men in their youthful beauty and their serene, still handsome older selves offers surprising, often moving revelations to the viewer and reader. Yet here again, one wishes that more of them were allowed to speak for themselves. The photographs included are large and beautifully reproduced (a eye-popping highlight is one of a very young Yul Brynner), but it is downright churlish to offer a smoldering picture of a half-undressed Jack Fontan, state that it is "one of a series of photos in which the subject performs... a striptease until he is fully unclothed," and then not show any more! In short, this is a book that, overall, has an effect exactly like many of its photographs--it tantalizes, but in the end leaves one a bit unsatisfied.

Great book with an artistic assortment of classic male nudes. What makes this one different than your typical book of vintage nudes? This book combines stories and updated photographs of the men who did it first. Quite a wonderful and fascinating book-- as well as a trip down memory lane. Many full page portraits-- a great coffee table book.

This was a great look back into male nudes through a certain length of history. i love the photos and artwork.

interesting. i was reading another book by the same author and looked this one up, as it was available i figured it would round out the reading on the principles and the time period.

Wonderful buy! Highly recommend this product.

Great product....filled with beautiful images....made me get my camera back out and start shooting again. A book most men should have in their collectionThanksDarrell

This book is great.. as an artist I was just thrilled with this book. The history behind the models was insightful and captivating. A must read if you want to shoot figure models.

Great bios of the men who photographed the male nude in the early years of the twentieth century. Informative, non-erotic and perfect for the coffee table.