#artistic nudes

Carlotta Champagne fromcarlotta-champagne.com
Original photography by unknown.
Photomontage from the « Leeloo » photoset.
Model page at The Nude

…more montages with Carlotta Champagne

Carlotta Champagne fromcarlotta-champagne.com
Original photography by unknown.
Photomontage from the « Steamy Shower » photoset.
Model page at The Nude

…more montages with Carlotta Champagne

A fine photograph taken in Tunisia by Rudolf Lehnert in the early part of the 20th Century. Whilst much of his work concentrates on portraiture or displays a documentary style as he captures scenes of local life, historic architecture, and traditional dress, this particular image stands out as singularly and perhaps deliberately erotic - the long look into one another’s eyes could be taken for something far from innocent and platonic.

For this photograph by Wilhelm von Gloeden (and the kind words of appreciation which accompanied it), I extend my gratitude to Bob - who has been enjoying this collection for some time and was pleased to at last share a picture which so perfectly suits taking its place here. 

A wonderful addition to the regrettably small selection of stereoscopic 19th century nudes. We have seen this very pair of models before, with their artfully edited white pencilled drapery (this time they appear to be sharing a single piece of the fictional fabric wound around both waists!)

Basking lazily in the Mediterranean sun, two handsome young men photographed by Vincenzo Galdi. I believe that’s a lobster pot, perhaps these models were fishermen earning a little extra income by posing for photographs (or maybe Galdi just chose to place a prop there)

Is it just my imagination, or does the tanned young fellow on the right seem to be staring directly at a certain part of his companion? That’s no detached gaze into the middle distance, dear boy - whether it’s admiration or jealousy I cannot tell but that’s definitely where his attentions are focused!

Unlike many of von Gloeden’s nudes posed together, where any faintly suggestive sexual undertones are subtly discreet and mostly in the eye of the beholder, this stunning photograph stands out as undoubtedly & gloriously homoerotic. A passionate, intimate embrace, one’s lips to the other’s cheek - is it a softly whispered sweet nothing, or a chaste kiss we can’t quite see?

A second stunning photograph from Rudolf Lehnert, a more revealing continuation of an open-air yet intimate scene begun here. Though we may wish to peer more closely at the models themselves, the overall composition is expertly done, a fine tableau!

In these dreary grey days of winter not yet stirring into spring, let us look upon an idyllic scene of summer, think of the glorious Mediterranean sun on bare skin, the smell of herbs on a welcome breeze, hum of a thousand unseen insects in the air. Perhaps they can hear the sea, maybe the beach begins below their feet, close enough to the lapping waves that there’s a tang of windblown salt when they lick their lips.
These pictures allow us to imagine ourselves, for a moment not only in another time but another place; to think how it must have been to pose for these pictures, which still delight viewers over a century on.

A moment of theatrical drama for two von Gloeden models here, enacting some thrilling and tragic scene from myth or legend for the camera.

A trio of muscular men, arms interlinked, the image made all the more striking by that contrast between a dark background and the slightly over-exposed brightness of their skin.

Dating to 1905, this glorious flower-strewn scene of summery bliss created by Wilhelm von Gloeden was sold as a postcard (the publisher’s initials AE a co-incidental match for this very blog!). A fine souvenir for the traveller to treasure, or perhaps a treat to send home to a friend who shared the same appreciation of aesthetic beauty and male beauty combined!

The ever-lovely Il Moro, Pancrazio Buccini, with his handsomely proportioned and elegant companion - what poise in the way he hollows his back! We’ve seen these two together here, and again here, and this model photographed alone, too. Perhaps one day we will discover his name.

Photographed by Thomas Eakins circa 1883, this may or may not be from the same set as the other male nudes by the shoreline, as the boat so prominent in those shots is absent here, and the water much less still.
As something of a beachcomber myself, I cannot help but wonder what intriguing thing the man on the right (John Laurie Wallace) has found washed up by the waves!

An exquisite image of male beauty, pure perfection of lovely long legs, toned muscles, easy natural grace in every inch of their being. Titled Ragazzi napoletani sulla riva del mare (Neapolitan boys by the seaside), we can but imagine the slow soothing sound of the clear, bright, Mediterranean sea, the smell of it on the warm air, the sticky saltiness on skin, the cries of seabirds wheeling overhead…all in our minds, musing on the long-passed gloriously sunny day this was taken. None live now who were there, the models and their photographer long gone, but a moment was captured and made to last forever, for those who look on it now, and imagine.

Entwined Nude Young Men, a 19th century highly homoerotic photograph attributed to Wilhelm von Gloeden - perhaps one of his unsigned prints, but not proven so : I tend to side with the doubters, for his few known studio shots do not include this particular painted backdrop.

Taken around 1899 by Giovanni Crupi, friend of von Gloeden, and clearly enamoured of the style and subject of his works, so like is some of his own photography.

Jordan Miranda is looking back to see if you are looking at her backside. Copyright Jlrimages. Reblogging permitted if credits retained.

Jordan Miranda’s backside. Copyright Jlrimages. Reblogging permitted if credits retained.

My second article for Sexywomenphotography.com has gone live. Check it out!