George Platt Lynes

[Moondance]

George Platt Lynes (1907 – 1955)

 

"The depth and commitment he had in photographing the male nude, from the start of his career to the end, was astonishing. There was absolutely no commercial impulse involved — he couldn't exhibit it, he couldn't publish it." - Allen Ellenzweig, in George Platt Lynes: The Male Nudes (2011)

 

At the prime of his career during the '30's and '40's, George Platt Lynes was at the epicenter of a circle of powerful homosexual men that exerted influence at New York's artistic institutions. His early mentors were Monroe Wheeler, later the exhibition director at the Museum of Modern Art, and the writer Glenway Wescott, who provided Lynes with social cachet and business connections. An old school mate Lincoln Kirstein, later an arts impresario and a founder of the New York City Ballet, provided Lynes with commissions to photograph both George Balanchine's dances as well as the company's principal artists.

 

Lynes supported himself with portrait photography for the socially prominent and fashion work for leading magazines, but those assignments didn't hold his interest over time. His real passion was for the male nude, a pursuit he began as early as 1929. In view of prevailing laws and social climate, it was a daring undertaking. Many times during his career, he was reluctant to send his nude photographs through the mail, fearful of legal reprisals.

 

Lynes' interest in male nude photography continued for over two decades even though very few of these pictures were exhibited during his lifetime. Photographic shoots for the New York City Ballet gave Lynes ready access to good looking models. Sometimes models were paid for their services, but often lovers, friends, neighbors and even studio assistants were called upon to pose.

 

In an era when erotic photography of the male nude was taboo, Lynes was a pioneer, composing stunningly beautiful pictures, revolutionary in their originality and sexually charged themes. The quantity, subject and quality of his work was prodigious for its time. With hindsight, we can see the enormous influence of Lynes' art on virtually all of the important photographers of the male nude that followed him.

 

1934: Male Nude with Tattoos

http://cdn.ipernity.com/111/90/58/5199058.4fdcfbdf.800.jpg?r2

 

1935: Title Unknown

 

1935: The Sleepwalker

 

1937: James Leslie Daniels

 

1941: Male Nudes

 

1941: Tex Smutney and Buddy Stanley

http://cdn.ipernity.com/111/06/60/5220660.5d94fca5.640.jpg?r2

 

1942: Yul Brynner

 

1940s: Title Unknown

http://cdn.ipernity.com/111/06/54/5220654.e4d1d280.640.jpg?r2

 

1947: Carlos McLendon

http://cdn.ipernity.com/111/90/54/5199054.800fe480.640.jpg?r2

 

1952: Male Nude, Fire Island

 

1952: Untitled

http://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs/2012/03/P1080329-464x600.jpg

 

1952: Male Couple

 

Circa 1953: Nude Sitting on a Drafting Table

http://cdn.ipernity.com/111/90/52/5199052.1b6026b8.640.jpg?r2

 

Circa 1954: Gordon Hansen

 

Date and Title Unknown #1

 

Date and Title Unknown #2

 

Date and Title Unknown #3