R.I.P. Duane Michals

Several weeks ago, we lost two giants of both the art and gay worlds.  David Hockney's demise 

was all over my news feed, but I had to learn from several of my viewers that groundbreaking photographer Duane Michaels had died a couple of days earlier.  (Mr. Hockney makes an 

appearance here today, btw.)  I am ignoring my 1985 cutoff year for the blog this once 

because I wanted to give a fuller sampling of the remarkable artist's work.  With one 

possible exception (unknown date) I am presenting the images in chronological order.  

We start with a self portrait Mr. Michaels called Upside Down Portrait.

 

1966

Here we see The Violent Act from 1966, and I have to say

that it was quite edgy for the time.

 

1968

This is The Spirit Leaves the Body from 1968,

 

Back Talk

This set is from 1970 and titled Back Talk.

 

Anatomy Lesson

I don't have a date for Anatomy Lesson, a personal favorite 

I posted in my first Duane Michals series several years ago.

 

David Hockney

This is David Hockney with Friend from 1975

 

1978

These two images from 1978 are meant to be seen together.

 

Man Carrying a Chair

Here we see Man Carrying a Chair from 1982.

 

1990

Other than the obvious curly blond with a big book,

all I know about this one is the year, 1990.

 

John at 19

This is John at 19 from 2002.

 

2018

Still active well into his 80s, Mr. Michals did this as part of a fashion spread in 2018.

Note yet another curly blond with an antique typewriter, pink sandals, and some roses.

 

Goodbye

Finishing up with a photo of Duane Michals in which he seems to be waving goodbye.

Like David Hockney, Mr. Michals had a style all his own.

 

Duane Michals

This 1973 Duane Michals photo is captioned "It seemed inevitable that he should be here.  

In spite of everything it had happened, and he had permitted it to happen."

 

Duane Michals Day

It's Duane Michals day, and let's start with a man toweling off.

 

Candle

Despite the restrained nudity, this is my favorite of the day.

 

Back Talk

Here we see Back Talk from 1970.

 

No title

I couldn't find a title for this impressive photo.

 

Man to Man

I think this tryptich is from a larger series called Man to Man.

 

Any moment . . .

This item from the Leslie-Lohman Museum is called

"Any moment they might enter the room."

 

Man getting undressed

Man getting undressed.