#sporting photograph

My perpetual gratitude to Alan, who has sent in many fine photographs for me to choose from - this particular piqued my curiosity as the fellow’s name is included, a tantalising snippet of information on which I hoped I could expand; but my investigations have sadly drawn a blank, I cannot find out anything about his life or career. 

Though it is tiny (and regrettably I have been unable to locate a larger copy), this photograph is well worthy of inclusion, as it depicts a pair who proved exceedingly popular the first time they featured here! Once again they do an admirable job of holding their pose, neccessary stillness without losing the muscular tension and strength applied.

An endearing little snapshot of some sort of game taking place, with boots braced sole to sole they each grip a stick and presumably see who can pull the hardest to win, if not a prize, at least the momentary glory!

As past posts featuring wrestlers have gone down rather nicely, I thought I’d add one more - though it may be pushing a little later than my preferred cut-off date I don’t think anyone ought mind too much, as it is still the better part of ninety years old.

I promised more of the Deriaz brothers when last I shared a photograph from this family of remarkable strongmen. Here is another picture of Adrien, published in the magazine La Culture Physique, 1905, when he placed second in a competition for ‘physical beauty’, the precursor to body building contests later in the century. The winner was a fellow called Paul Gasquet, but I haven’t been able to find a photograph to prove his superiority!

vintagehandsomemen:

Tennis with Muybridge(1887)

From pioneering motion-picture-maker Eadweard Muybridge’s historically significant Animal Locomotion study. Specifically the naked guy playing tennis, in zoetrope format.

More pictures.

Ten photographs compiled to recreate the movement, I thought this fascinating post might be appreciated, as you certainly seem to have liked the animatedblacksmiths I posted previously!

loverofbeauty:

chronophotograph from the late 1800s by Étienne-Jules Marey

This piece is truly fascinating - not a true film clip but rather a sequence of still photographs taken in quick succession, using techniques similar to those deployed by the better-known Eadweard Muybridge, here animated to display the model’s movements in action. Also noteworthy, his fine moustache, and the tan which reaches no further than collar and elbow!

As my previous picture of Victorian wrestlers proved exceptionally popular, I thought you may like another, this donated by Alan. Poses wold have been held still to capture artificial action, when cameras could not use the fractions-of-a-second exposures we take for granted in sporting scenes today - at least with his fingers and toes against the ground, his partner is not having to support too much weight without moving and blurring the photograph!

loverofbeauty:

Bathers, New Zealand  (1910)

Currently sweltering in a stunning summer heatwave, I thought it was a fitting time for adding this photograph, a cooling dip in the clean antipodean seas, and in good company! A curious layering of bathing suits here, and I will never stop finding the long-legged and very dated designs outlandishly adorable, especially those little striped numbers.

Georg Lurich : another submission from our generous reader ‘Nice Guy’ - thankyou kindly, good sir. Lurich was an Estonian strongman and Greco-Roman wrestler. Always curious to find out about the people behind these pictures, I’ve done a little digging and found he was a fascinating character, his life story and achievements are well worth a read.

It appears Lancement du Poids is the French term for the Shot Put - there’s my something new learnt for the day.

I’ve never been a particular fan of the muscle-man type, but that body is quite spectacular!

mydaguerreotypeboyfriend:

Brighton Swimming Club, 1863 (via The Retronaut)

We have had this extraordinary photograph before, but this is a much-improved quality, well worth increasing to full size - and at last we know the circumstances and date of its creation! Look to the curious pose of the fellow fourth from the left, balancing upon one leg.

Like the George Henry Seely photograph posted last week, which was so immediately popular among my followers and their followers and so on ad infinitum, Frank Eugene’s ‘Archer’ of 1914 shares the soft focus, the addition of a prop to create a scene instead of the usual academic pose, and subtle use of nudity for aesthetic appeal rather than eroticism. 

vintagehandsomemen:

Milo Brinn, 1895.

“Milo Brinn (born Luigi Borra) performed feats of strength and took on all comers as a wrestler at the famous Folies Berger in Paris. Brinn’s act at the Folies consisted of tumbling and gymnastics, hand balancing, figure display, heavy juggling and feats of supporting and carrying weights. He could perform a crucifix with 66lb. in each hand and could do a one-leg squat holding 60 kg.” From OldtimeStrongman.com

For all those enthusiasts of the peculiarities and extraordinary eccentricities of mens’ swimwear in times gone by! Photographed near the beach of Coney Island, August the 15th, 1907 - all that is left lacking is the names for this pair sharing a seaside souvenir picture. One appears chipper and confident, while the other seems less certain about sitting before the camera!

Taken circa 1890 by pioneer of photographic and x-ray techniques Albert Londe, in the clinic of neurologist Dr. Charcot, this set of sequential pictures might appeal to sporting fans as well as those interested in anatomy (or, of course, socks with suspenders, as that is all the model wears).

I readily admit I know next to nothing about wrestling and cannot even tell which of these two 19th century gents would be getting the upper hand at this point in their extraordinary pose, but wrestling photographs always go down rather well on here (and besides I like the prominent presence of sock garters!)

A young Eugen Sandow, photographed here in the late 1880s, after leaving Prussia to embark on his early career as a circus strongman. As befitting someone whose body would become his business, he reveals almost all to show those superbly defined flexed muscles for the admiration of his audience.