American photographer who during his career collaborated with the likes of Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Weston. His early work demonstrated documentation of barns, doorways, the sky or even the simplicity of paint peeling off a wall. He later moved on to portraits of male nudes, as he was a troubled bisexual who at the time felt anguished by his socially unacceptable feelings towards men at that time. Through these portraits he expressed his spiritual longing for peace and simplicity.
•How does the nude reflect the period in which it was made?
Personally I don't feel this portrait of the male reflects anything of the 1940's and the period it was taken. With it being taken in front a white background and simply of the males midi section and in black & white, the image does not give anything away other than what it is of. At first glances, without the title, it could easily be mistaken for one of Robert Mapplethorpes nude portraits from the 1970's/1980's.
•Do you think the image you have chosen objectifies the body?
Yes it does but only the male body - not just because it is a man in the picture but also because his stance
is very powerful and reminds of me a male statue. The lighting and shadows on the legs show the strength in
the muscles and then the shadows of the body visible on the walls show the rest of the body that we can't see
- the arms/shoulders.
the muscles and then the shadows of the body visible on the walls show the rest of the body that we can't see
- the arms/shoulders.
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