Showcasing vintage male photography, mostly nude. You must be 18 years of age or older to visit this blog! If you hold a copyright on any material shown on this blog, notify me, and it will be removed immediately.
Male nudes were routinely (and legally) done from the beginnings of photography around 1840 until about 1930 when laws were passed prohibiting distribution. Things loosened up in the late 1960s, but some good work was done illegally in between.
It's amusing to hear that full nude photography was more tolerated during the Victorian era than it was in the 20th century. I guess the change went hand in hand with the restrictions on motion pictures around that time that eliminated the surprising glimpses of flesh seen in silents and pre-Code sound films.
Also, even though I knew about those "head braces" photographers used, I was under the impression that they were placed behind the model where they wouldn't show. Probably not as easy to pull off with a standing nude as with a seated fully clothed portrait shot.
But couldn't this have been retouched out of the image on the glass plate negative? Or was this possibly a "scientific" image rather than an "artistic nude"?
Thanks for posting this great set of vintage nudes!
I really like these photographs from many years ago. It is so good to know that there were men who photographed naked men back then.
ReplyDeleteMale nudes were routinely (and legally) done from the beginnings of photography around 1840 until about 1930 when laws were passed prohibiting distribution. Things loosened up in the late 1960s, but some good work was done illegally in between.
DeleteIt's amusing to hear that full nude photography was more tolerated during the Victorian era than it was in the 20th century. I guess the change went hand in hand with the restrictions on motion pictures around that time that eliminated the surprising glimpses of flesh seen in silents and pre-Code sound films.
DeleteAlso, even though I knew about those "head braces" photographers used, I was under the impression that they were placed behind the model where they wouldn't show. Probably not as easy to pull off with a standing nude as with a seated fully clothed portrait shot.
But couldn't this have been retouched out of the image on the glass plate negative? Or was this possibly a "scientific" image rather than an "artistic nude"?
Thanks for posting this great set of vintage nudes!
--- hsc
I'm going with scientific purpose on this one.
DeleteI have this one, but someone cloned out the head device. Seeing it as originally intended is odd. That is quite the body and those abs are something!
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming yours is the altered version. I can't imagina anyone going to the trouble to put that thing in there.
DeleteYeah, mine is. What was the point in this anyway?
DeleteSome fool probably thought "uncluttered" was better than authentic.
Delete