1900-ish Photos

Our theme today is men from around the turn of the last century,

and we start with a young Georg Lurich in a rocky setting.

 

Reclining

There's a quiet elegance about this one.

 

 

Unknown

Both the model and the photographer in this one are unknown, to me anyway.

 

Von Gloeden

This tasteful derriere photo is by Von Gloeden.

 

Schultz

For once, Google Images Search helped me find out that this item I acquired during 

the Sack of Tumblr is one of Arthur Schultz's photos made in late 19th C. Italy.

 

Low fat item

I think this guy's body fat index is somewhere close to zero.

 

Lighting

The unknown photographer who did this one

was ahead of his time when it came to lighting.

 

French?

This one came from a book by Herman Puig on Von Gloeden,

but the description said "anonymous French, 1900."

 

Textbook

This one looks like it belongs in a textbook.  I like it anyway.

 

Handstand

And last, but not least, we have a well built fellow doing a handstand.

 

Koloman Moser

Koloman Moser (1868-1918) was an Austrian artist who did everything from stained glass to household furnishings to secessionist paintings and even postage stamps.  We will focus mainly on his male nudes with a few other tidbits thrown in for depth.  Above is a photo by an unknown photographer.

 

Rudolf Steindl

Moser's brother, Rudolf Steindl, posed for this portrait in 1910.

 

Yellow and Blue

This is Male Nude in Yellow and Blue from 1913.

 

Clash of the Titans

By many accounts it took Koloman Moser almost two years (1913-15) to complete Clash of the Titans.  It's easy to see the relationship of the sketch below to the finished work.

 

Likely Academic

This 1888 drawing is probably a sketch from late in Koloman Moser's academic training.

 

The Light

Although Kolomon Moser was not known for closely following Classical styles,

we might think so when seeing the genitalia on 1914's The Light.

 

Nude Youth

1915 was a very productive year for Koloman Moser with Nude Youth Standing Between Rocks

being one of the more memorable works.  I took the photo above during my 2023 visit 

to the Belvedere in Vienna.  The version below is a museum scan.

 

Loneliness

Koloman Moser called this painting Loneliness.

 

Not a Mistake

No, these images of household furnishing are not here by mistake.  Koloman Moser had 

a thriving side business designing furniture, glassware, textiles, and carpets.

The vase above is one of the more ornate glass pieces done by Herr Moser.

 

Undated

This undated sketch is in the Leopold Museum of Vienna.

 

The Wanderer, Three Versions

Koloman Moser apparently made two versions of what is perhaps his best known male nude, 

The Wanderer.  The version above is generally considered the "official" version,

while the one below is seen almost as often and may be an intermediate 

work based on the sketch at bottom.

Disclosure:  I removed severe yellowing from the drawing below.

 

Trancelike

This 1915 Kolomon Moser self portrain has a trance-like stare.

 

Allegory of Youth

I don't have a date for Moser's Allegory of Youth.

Rejected Postage Stamp

The Austrian Post Office rejected this1917 Koloman Moser submission for stamp 

art featuring the new (and last) Austro-Hungarian Emperor, Charles I.  

Both the Empire and Herr Moser were gone a year later.

 

Bryan B's Denny Denfield Photos

Regular contributor and commentator Bryan B recently shared with me his huge collection of classic era physique photos.  Today's set is the first comprised entirely of material from this treasure trove, and we start with the amazing work of Bay Area photographer Denny Denfield.  Like all but the last of today's models, our first subject posing in a meadow is unidentified.

I want to express my deep gratitude to Bryan for his generosity.

 

Pair

The only duo in today's set came from a private collection.

 

Private Collection

This is the second of three photos provided by Bryan B for today's series which came from a private collector's album.  It is also the first of two made at the same scenic beach with the same model.

 

Sprawled

 

A rocky beach was the setting for this model in a sprawling pose.

Favorite location

Denny Denfield used this rock on the shore of San Francisco Bay for a number of important photo shoots.  If you look closely, you can see one of the bay bridges at lower right.

 

Door Jamb

Our only indoor photo of the day has a model leaning out from a door jamb.

 

Reclining in the Dunes

This reclining nude is another photo from a private collector's

 personal album of Denny Denfield's work.

 

Mountains

Denny Denfield took this photo in a mountainous area, probably near San Francisco.

 

Classic seashore

Denny Denfield used a classic California seashore for this impressive photo.

 

Brian Dexter

Closing out the Denny Denfield via Bryan series with the only known model in the set, Brian Dexter.  Many thanks to Bryan B for contributing today's photos!