Vintage gay photography
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To live a secret life when love between consenting adults is banned and censured by people sure they know better risk making the difficult unbearable.
“Our collection began when we came across an old photo that we thought was one of a kind. He passed away two years later.’
“1951” “Davis & JC”
1953, Croatia
“Ice cream is good on a hot day, Smith & Wade still in love?”
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Via: Guardian
Buy: In Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love 1850s–1950.
So far, more than 4,000 such images—all taken between the 1850s and 1950s—have been found.
Now, 400 of these romantic snapshots are on display at the Musée Rath in Geneva, Switzerland, which hosts the Musee d’Art et d’Histoire’s temporary exhibitions. He's also an active participant, sharing personal and poignant details from his life.
One soldier kept these snapshots hidden in a shoebox until the early 1990s when he handed them to a relative, along with the ring that he was wearing in the Alps photo, with the request: “Please keep these safe for me.” According to the relative, the soldier, nearing the end of his life, wanted to preserve the one thing that meant more to him than anything else.
What are we looking for in the faces of these people who dared to challenge the mores of their time to seek solace together? Taken in 1927, the snapshot showed two men embracing. His photos are like postcards from the queer past, capturing moments that were often hidden from mainstream society. But for 73-year-old gay historian Mike Balaban, it’s much more than that.
Pictures via the Nini-Treadwell Collection.
See Photos of Gay Men in Love Dating Back to the 1850s
LGBTQ+ Pride
A Smithsonian magazine special report
A new exhibition features romantic snapshots found at flea markets, antique shops and online auctions
In a series of photographs, men from around the world kiss, hug, picnic and gaze into each others’ eyes.
In one, two men hold up a sign that says “Not married but willing to be.” In another, a shirtless man gives another man a piggyback ride.
When we see them as connected, we feel more whole, and that’s what love is about for many of us anyway.
The book, Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love 1850s-1950s (5 Continents Editions), is available online.
For most of us, Instagram serves as a personal photo album.
With time, however, they found plenty—far more than they needed to fill a book.
Following the photography book’s publication in 2020, the images resonated with readers all over the world. In Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love 1850s–1950s, hundreds of images tell the story of love and affection between men, with some clearly in love and others hinting at more than just friendship.
“All social classes and ages are represented, from workers to businessmen, including students, soldiers and sailors.”
Many of the photographs were in near-perfect condition when Nini and Treadwell found them, which suggests they were safely hidden away somewhere over the decades. From the sun-drenched beaches of Fire Island, through the pulsing nightlife of Mykonos, to the vibrant streets of Rio de Janeiro.
It’s part memoir, part time capsule, and entirely captivating.
Balaban has a special talent for photography and storytelling. He chronicles these changes through compelling anecdotes and captivating visuals, turning his feed into a living history book.
Scrolling through Mike’s photos, you'll find shirtless muscle boys smiling proudly at Fire Island beach parties, candid shots of LGBTQ+ pride events from a time when they felt genuinely revolutionary, and moments of intimacy and connection among friends and lovers.
Provenance: US. Note on back: “McInturff, Steve Book, Delaware O.”
Postcard: Circa 1900
Circa 1900 – Selfie.
Postcard: Circa 1900
“Cowboy Dance ‘Stag’, October 1910”
1945 – Provenance: US/photo taken in Austria
‘In 1945, these two soldiers had hiked up into the Austrian Alps and a friend took their picture as they embraced in the snow.
In Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love 1850s–1950 we see men loving men in various ambrotypes, daguerreotypes, glass negatives, tintypes, cabinet cards, photo postcards, photo strips, photomatics and snapshots. Nini and Treadwell saw themselves in the photograph and decided to bring it home.
They thought that first photograph was just a one-off, and they didn’t expect to find others like it.
Who were they? His carefully curated Instagram feed is a living, breathing archive of gay history.