My source gave a 1930 date for this Earle Forbes photo in a nice natural setting. If that date is correct, it would place the picture in the time frame Mr. Forbes was still photographing dancers.
This young man looks more like an athlete than a dancer to me.
Big Dude here. He looks a bit lost. Might this have been a "transition" shot from the time Forbes started shooting athletes? Also, might the male have been reluctant to pose stripped? Thus the expression on his face?
ReplyDeleteYes, it is likely transitional, and I should mention that more than a few dancers have athletic builds. IMO, the young man is posed exactly as Mr. Forbes directed him because I've seen the same expression on other model in his outdoor photos.
DeleteThe original dancers for Ted Shawn Dance Tropue in Becket, Ma weee all athletes. Ted recruited them from Springfield College, the first college in the US to grant a degree in Physical Education. Through the 5O’ the majority of the Directors of the YMCA’s in the US were Springfield College graduates.
ReplyDeleteAll interesting and true. Thank you for pointing this out.
DeleteSpringfield College was affiliated with the YMCA, and from the 1930’s to the 1960’s, had living tableau shows of their male students wearing skull caps, briefs and metallic body paint….:)
ReplyDeleteHmmm . . . that would have set off my gaydar.
DeleteGut aussehende Jugend, wie ein FKK-Foto im Spreewald.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does make one think of FKK.
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