Man to Man: A History of Gay Photography (Male Photography) by Pierre Borhan
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Book Reviews of Man to Man: A History of Gay Photography (Male Photography)
Book Review: Man to Man
Summary: 4 Stars
I am enjoying over and over the insightful photos and stories about the men and the photographers. Book Review: A beautiful book, but not perfect
Summary: 3 Stars
Man to Man: A History of Gay Photography has lofty ambitions - seeking in 300 pages and through approximately 500 photographs to chronicle the entire history of homosexuals in photograph. It's an ambitious goal, and the result is a beautiful, hefty coffee table book that in many ways succeeds, but in some ways falls short.
The area where this book shines is in its huge collection of photos from many different eras. The collection begins with the early photographs of the Victorian era - these are mostly of two full-dressed men who may or may not be a couple. Discussing the implications of homosexuality in this era, the collection is a fascinating look into a world that has thankfully changed substantially. The collection then moves into the 1918-1969 era, in which gay photography was more common, but still largely underground. Here we begin to see men flouting their physiques and showing off their bodies in everything from personal photographs to the popular 'beefcake' spreads of the 1950's. the third section explores the modern age, in which photographers enjoyed relative freedom in photographic gay subject matter.
The photos themselves are good for the most part, although there is a lot of amateur subject matter in here, particularly amongst the older photos. These are interesting, but you shouldn't expect the best composition or poses. There are some very powerful images from the early 20th century taken by professional photographers, and I found these to be amongst the best in the book, primarily the work of Wilhelm von Gloeden and Wilhelm von Pluschow. Overall, about 20% of the photos in here are full-frontal, with the collection focusing on the artistic rather than the erotic. This might not satisfy some readers, and in all honesty gay photography tends to run to the erotic, so that may be underrepresented here.
As the book moves past 1920, it becomes a little too eclectic and scattered to truly serve its purpose as a comprehensive look at the history of gay photography. It presents a lot of material from the 1950's and 1960's without really giving the reader a sense of the evolution of the art, and then all of a sudden you're in the modern era. This section is really limited, particularly considering the amount of material out there. The authors briefly discuss Mapplethorpe and his contemporaries, but this is by no means a comprehensive or overly informative look at modern works. It also completely ignores the use of homoerotic images in advertising, such as works found in Calvin Klein, GQ and Abercrombie & Fitch. I'm not sure any historical survey of gay photography is complete if you skip this entirely.
Another shortcoming of the book is the writing. The editors have done a fine job assembling an impressive collection of photos, but they aren't great writers. Most of the text in the book reads as the author's opinions, and the structure is a little clunky and awkward. There is little fact presented here, and rather than a sense of what things were like in the eras covered, readers instead get a sense of what the writers supposed life was like.
This is a unique work in its scope, and for that reason it may be a good buy. It's honestly a little overpriced for what it is, and there are better collections out there if one is looking for a collection of photos from a particular era or of a particular type. For those who want a broad look at gay photography, this might work. I personally resold my copy because only one or two photos stood out as particularly impressive.
Book Review: A Comprehensive, Intelligent, and Elegant Photographic History
Summary: 5 Stars
MAN TO MAN: A HISTORY OF GAY PHOTOGRAPHY in the much awaited compendium that explores in depth the history of gay photography while providing an important sociological treatise illustrated by some of the finest reproductions of early daguerreotypes to the luminous black and white and full color artworks of today. Author Pierre Borhan sets the pace for the book in an enlightening Foreword 'Coming to Terms' in which he succinctly gives an overview of the chances taken, the fears, the bravery and the ultimate success of photographers who dared to document man to man relationships and subject matter since the inception of the art of photography. This is an immensely readable book as well as a rich collection of fine photographs from 1840 to the present.
The book is divided into sections that not only represent periods of time but also the development of attitude toward male photography. The first section 1840 - 1918: THE SLOW EMERGENCE OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN PHOTOGRAPHY draws upon posed studio images of men as friends (re Walt Whitman) and proceeds into the trend of voyeurism (as in Wilhelm von Gloeden and Wilhelm von Pluschow's recreation of mythological scenes) that provided images to a closeted group of buyers. The second section 1918 - 1969: THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S CHOICE - SUPPRESSION OR EMANCIPATION sites the emergence of gay male photographers who moved from the format of athletes as models, through the now famous Athletic Model Guild, Bruce of Los Angeles, George Platt Lynes, and the many anonymous images of eroticism that became readily available. The final section 1969 - 2006: ART PHOTOGRAPHERS DECLARE THEIR HOMOSEXUALITY is especially fine in examining the importance of male nudes in the marketing industry, and the infamous works of Robert Mapplethorpe, Herb Ritts, John Dugdale, Jan Saudek, Pierre et Gilles, Nan Golden, Tom Bianchi, Duane Michals, Andreas Bitesnich among other preeminent artists whose images are now widely collected by museums and the general public.
Borhan is assisted by Olivier Saillard and Gilles Mora in editing and researching this excellent book. If there are important omissions (where are the works of the new and important sensitive photographers such as Adam Raphael, Norm Yip, John Sonsini and Lyle Ashton Harris to name but a few?), there are more than a small number of photographers whose works will be new to the viewer. The quality of reproduction is top notch and the paper is the finest. On the cover is an image of Jean Marais, the lover of Jean Cocteau, whose face and body helped to bring serious attention to the subject of this excellent survey. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, December 07
Book Review: Exceptional overview of gay photography
Summary: 5 Stars
Large format book with thoughtful chronologically organized history and a great range of photographs illustrating male nude photography and the increasingly "out" elements of both the subjects and the photographers. By no means emphasizing either frontal nude or erotic compositions, but rather (refreshingly) the ART of photography within the gay male perspective. Some classic and well-known photographs, but a great many you will not have seen elsewhere and will appreciate in terms of the range of subject, lighting and composition.