Photo-blog: GLBTQ Bare History Month Friday #4

This is another Friday, the fourth, during 2019 GLBTQ Bare History Month. The post today is the last one in this series for this annual celebration. The heading picture, shown above, features a man in the early days of color photography poolside with his beach ball. Judging from the man’s hairstyle, the picture dates from the middle 1960’s. There is no information of the photographer.

The image above is of two men working out on a bench-press together. Judging from the hairstyle on the young man who is assisting the man on the bench, the time is the late 1940’s. The difference in the races of the two men is subtly implied. It is obvious that the photo is before the popularity of men shaving their hairy armpits. Again, no photographer credit is available.

As I shared last week, the primary focus of the pictures featured today are from the early days of photography. Understandably, given the racial segregation in effect in this country, diversity is difficult if not impossible to view during this time frame. That is the reason that I began this installment with the picture above. The remaining images will resort back to the beginnings of photography.

The above entry shows us two youth who are unknown to us. The photographer, Wilhelm von Gloeden, created this in the year, 1893. The models are unknown. Von Gloeden was born on September 16, 1856 in Mechlenburg, the German Confederation and died on February 16, 1931, in Taormina, Sicily, Italy. He was known to have had some intimate relations with some of his photography subjects, especially with Vincenzo Lupicino (also known as “Virgilio”) who is shown in the picture below entitled, “Boy With Flying Fish.”

Below are a collection of images all photographed by the same artist. These could very well be some of the oldest pictures that depict complete male nudity.

The photographic collage is dated 1880’s. There is no additional information on either the photographer or his models. It is obvious that both of the models were quite comfortable being in close proximity and naked.

The above picture is by Wilhelm Pluschow, who later legally changed his first name to the Italian equivalent, Guglielmo Pluschow. He was a cousin of Wilhelm von Gloeden and lived from August 18, 1852 until January 3, 1930. He moved to Italy and resided near the capital, Rome. He also enjoyed photographing male nudes and was often in conflict with the legal authorities over the corruption of minors and being in physical contact with minors.

He often took his pictures while he was as naked as his subjects. The above image is of Vincenzo Galdi who for years was a lover of Pluschow. Galdi later became a photographer of bare men himself. Pluschow later moved back to Germany when both he and Galdi were discovered in intimate relations while in bed together.

“The Algerian Boy” by Guglielmo Pluschow

The above picture was taken by Pluschow and the young man was visiting while sailing with his father, an Algerian seaman. The young man became attracted to Pluschow and led to Pluschow abandoning Galdi.

I hope that this series of antique bare photographs on Fridays has enlightened everyone’s appreciation of our combined GLBTQ Bare History Month. I think the basic fact that our community has existed for as long as it has is assurance of our integrity and our undeniable right to be here!

Happy 2019 GLBTQ Bare History Month!

Naked hugs!

Roger/ReNude Pride