Although Fiedler marketed his work as studies for artists, this last photo look as though
it might have anatomical uses. Again, if anyone has more photos by Fiedler or labeled
Movendo, please get in touch with me. The same goes for Eickmann and Der Akte.
I have gotten a different"aura" from most of these 19th-early 20th century photos. Latter-day pictures, no matter how artistic they purported to be, were mostly "cock and sack" pictures. "Moral sensibilities had changed and it was daring to show men naked. In the previous era, it seems to me, naked men were just naked men, and were often anatomical examples for medics or artists. Oh, I realize there were some who regarded them as immoral, and some who used them as masturbation inspiration. But overall, I think they were just pictures, and most regarded them as being for artistic/medical use.
ReplyDeleteWhile there was the odd episode of repression, i.e. Marconi in the 1870s, things were relatively free and easy in Europe until World War I.
DeleteI always appreciate seeing old photographs of naked males. There are those who hate nudity, and are actively, especially with computer hacking, trying to remove evidence that our society was once much more tolerant and approving of nudity. I speak more about public, and common nudity.
ReplyDeleteAnd to make things worse, I'm seeing more and more vintage male nude photos censored on line.
DeleteAn enjoyable set. I would love to see more from either photographer and learn more about them and their work. As for censorship, I am vehemently against it in any form.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the series, Pat. I posted these partly in hope that someone out there has more of the photographers' work that they might share.
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