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Friday, January 24, 2020



This Marconi model is in a pose that looks like it would be  hard to hold over a long period despite being reclining.  Perhaps a certain life model from London will enlighten us?

7 comments:

  1. What a terrific series! By far, all these models are my ideal build. Slim, very little body fat and beautifully muscled, whether naturally, or by hard work. I also find very sexy how pale their skin is and how comparatively hairless their bodies are. Except for their thick pubic hair, under arm hair, and facial hair which contrasts so sexily with their skin. So manly, IMHO.

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    1. 19th C. flash photography was known for "blanching" out body hair and making skin look paler. Some of these guys were hairier than we can tell from the photos, but the natural style build comes through just fine.

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    2. That's what I thought and rather grainy plates. Although, I suspect some models did do a bit of "manscaping".

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    3. While you're correct about the effects of 19th century photography on the nude body, these five models have very little body hair. The finer hairs that all men have on their lower arms and legs gets "blanched" out, but if any of these men were hirsute, you would definitely be able to tell. So maybe a more hairless body was desirable in the artist model world, and maybe there was a bit of manscaping going on, after all! In addition, people in the 19th century WERE paler than nowadays, particularly urban dwellers. The idea or past time of sun bathing or "getting some sun" is very much a 20th century concept. The head and hands yes, but the rest of the body almost never received exposure except for the occasional splashing about in the swimming hole. In fact, having a "tan" from exposure to the sun was considered low class, as it was the peasantry who worked the fields and grew dark from being in the sun. If you compare (for example) the models used in the photographs of Von Gloeden and Von Pluschow, with the models shown above, you can readily see the difference in skin tones, as both mentioned photographers regularly used models chosen from the agricultural working class. (Sorry to go on so long and to sound so pedantic!)

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    4. I don't see your comment as pedantic. It makes sense that less hirsute men might give a clearer view of the muscles. Also, what you say about 19th C. social class and sun tans is spot on. In von Gloeden's case, however, the models were not only peasants, but also from southern Italy and Sicily and thus prone to darker skin tones to begin with.

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  2. Ouch..yes..very awkward, unless he has hidden support behind his back. Reclining poses can often be rather difficult to get comfy...A beanbag works well..

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    1. Yes, this reclining pose looks like it would be tiresome.

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