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The Male Nude
For anyone who worships the male body or wants to know why others do (TASCHEN's 25th anniversary special edition) While the female nude has long played a concpicuous role in western iconography, the male nude has not always enjoyed such adoration. This collection provides an overdue review of material that at one time could only be bought under the counter, beginning with the anonymous erotica of the 19th century. It features the pioneer homoerotic nude photographs of Baron Wilhelm von Gloeden, posing nude youths in classical postures at Taormina in Sicily. It includes illustrations from groundbreaking magazines such as Physique Pictorial, the leading organ of the mid-50s gay scene, and it covers the entire range from classic masters of male nude photography, such as Herbert List, George Platt Lynes or Robert Mapplethorpe, to the pin-up beefcake of the sex magazines.
576 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1998
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290 people want to read
About the author
David Leddick
56 books13 followersDavid Leddick is the author of several novels as well as several highly-regarded art photography books. His novels include "My Worst Date," "Never Eat In," "The Sex Squad," "The Handsomest Man in the World," and his art compilations include "The Male Nude", "Secrets of the Chorus" which was mounted in a concert production in 2003 and is at work on two other musicals. Leddick was formerly worldwide creative director for L'Oreal and Revlon. He divides his time among homes in Miami Beach, Paris and Montevideo.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 23, 2019
A decent overview of photographed male nudes from the middle to almost the end of the 20th Century. By today's standards, a little underwhelming: only a minority of the nudes are frontal, and no men are shown in a state of arousal. Yet the varying tastes and talents of the various photographers do not make this a signal work of art, either. Worth having at the new reduced price.
Hardbound.
(Eugene Sandow, one of the older models in this book)
Hardbound.
(Eugene Sandow, one of the older models in this book)
April 5, 2023
It’s a 500 page book of male nudes. What else is there to say?
January 19, 2008
Fascinating to see the chronological progression of the nude male image and its shifts in ideal beauty and body type. Okay, and naked men!
February 23, 2025
My penis is bigger than all of these men.
September 28, 2022
As a warning to those reading this book, while the vast majority of photographs are fine (or as fine as nude photographs can go in proper context), some pictures towards the end of the book are outright pornographic, with models being either aroused or groping one another. As such, this book strays into the debates on the definition of "art," whether eroticism has a proper place in art, and whether pornography can in any way be classified as art. The author seems to not only think that pornography qualifies, but longs for the day when nudity is everyday and ordinary (a little bit of "pagan refreshment" as he calls it). But if something becomes too common, it risks losing its power. Interestingly, he noted that historically (post-Roman and pre-1960s) males were hesitant to be seen naked, especially by women, as this was a sign of weakness and reduction in power. Rather than see that weakness as something beautiful when reserved to its proper place (and thereby truly become a strength, in certain ways), he would reduce it to the common and commercial.
The book is divided into eras, with the author going over some historical developments relating to the male nude in art during those eras. His history isn't always bad (though he has idiotic assertions such as "the eastern churches didn't allow depictions of humans"), but his interpretations certainly are. If a man photographed another man naked, it's because of homosexual inclinations. If an artist focused on mythology as a subject, it was merely a method to photograph male nudes and not for the inherent artistry which the setting could provide. In this way, he reads into the artists minds more than should be allowed (and without providing any basis for the assertions), intent to mold all men to his own (somewhat perverted) vision.
While there were some beautiful images and great references in the book, I can't help but feel a little dirty after reading it. And that isn't a good sign for a supposed "art" book.
The book is divided into eras, with the author going over some historical developments relating to the male nude in art during those eras. His history isn't always bad (though he has idiotic assertions such as "the eastern churches didn't allow depictions of humans"), but his interpretations certainly are. If a man photographed another man naked, it's because of homosexual inclinations. If an artist focused on mythology as a subject, it was merely a method to photograph male nudes and not for the inherent artistry which the setting could provide. In this way, he reads into the artists minds more than should be allowed (and without providing any basis for the assertions), intent to mold all men to his own (somewhat perverted) vision.
While there were some beautiful images and great references in the book, I can't help but feel a little dirty after reading it. And that isn't a good sign for a supposed "art" book.
April 15, 2020
Bought this last year in London's Gay's The Word secondhand section and, boy, what a find it is! I think I might just start a Taschen collection bc they have the highest quality books about the most niche of subjects (a book about sneakers, a book of tattoos, a book of American ads from the 40s and then the 50s and then the 60s, all printed on the highest quality paper - I want them all!!!).
I've always preferred art that bends more towards the perverted side, and there is some of that here, but mostly it's just a collection of photographs documenting the slow path to rediscovering the beauty of the male nude body. I greatly appreciated the short historical introductions to each period covered within the book (the 19th century, the 1920s and so on). I would have happily read more about each artist and their position within the artistic society of the day, as I cherish the context the information gave me for the photographs.
I already knew I loved George Platt Lynes and Robert Mapplethorpe from my limited previous exposure to this kind of photography, but I found some absolute new favourites. Like everything James Bidgood did on Pink Narcissus, which I assume must be the inspiration for ContraPoints's dreamy aesthetic presentation. Or Jeff Palmer's The Grey Couple and it's more innocent variation on page 335. Or Thomas Eakins's original study photograph for his painting "Wrestlers", which is superior to the finished product in every way. Or the big golden age Hollywood energy given off in Raymond Voinquel's portraits. So many things I'd like framed!
The only downside is that my edition comes with this campy cover which I despise because it is not at all representative of the mostly elegant content found within.
I've always preferred art that bends more towards the perverted side, and there is some of that here, but mostly it's just a collection of photographs documenting the slow path to rediscovering the beauty of the male nude body. I greatly appreciated the short historical introductions to each period covered within the book (the 19th century, the 1920s and so on). I would have happily read more about each artist and their position within the artistic society of the day, as I cherish the context the information gave me for the photographs.
I already knew I loved George Platt Lynes and Robert Mapplethorpe from my limited previous exposure to this kind of photography, but I found some absolute new favourites. Like everything James Bidgood did on Pink Narcissus, which I assume must be the inspiration for ContraPoints's dreamy aesthetic presentation. Or Jeff Palmer's The Grey Couple and it's more innocent variation on page 335. Or Thomas Eakins's original study photograph for his painting "Wrestlers", which is superior to the finished product in every way. Or the big golden age Hollywood energy given off in Raymond Voinquel's portraits. So many things I'd like framed!
The only downside is that my edition comes with this campy cover which I despise because it is not at all representative of the mostly elegant content found within.
March 21, 2025
It took two wars and a lot of determined men and women to get men out of their duds and back to the Classical and Renaissance view of what a man was: beautiful, on a par with women.
Begins with historical exposition and leads up to the invention of photography.
The double standards of nudity among the sexes, throughout time.
Shift from younger men to well-muscled and well-endowed men.
Reception coinciding with the rise (and fall) of the acceptance of homosexuality. Correlations with fashion, apparel, and general cultural shifts.
The emergence of physique photography.
The rock stars of the 1960s, pushing the envelope of fashion and behavior.
Lust was the new direction that photography was taking in the 1980s.
The Ritter brothers
George Platt Lynes
Bob Mizer
Richard Avedon
Jim French
Jeff Palmer
Daniel Hernández
Dianora Niccolini
Robert Mapplethorpe. 🤩
The overall oeuvre of images is somewhat underwhelming, but the explanations behind them fascinate and intrigue.
The recognition of the male body as a sex object in this century links us strongly to the Renaissance and further back to antiquity.
Begins with historical exposition and leads up to the invention of photography.
The double standards of nudity among the sexes, throughout time.
Shift from younger men to well-muscled and well-endowed men.
Reception coinciding with the rise (and fall) of the acceptance of homosexuality. Correlations with fashion, apparel, and general cultural shifts.
The emergence of physique photography.
The rock stars of the 1960s, pushing the envelope of fashion and behavior.
Lust was the new direction that photography was taking in the 1980s.
The Ritter brothers
George Platt Lynes
Bob Mizer
Richard Avedon
Jim French
Jeff Palmer
Daniel Hernández
Dianora Niccolini
Robert Mapplethorpe. 🤩
The overall oeuvre of images is somewhat underwhelming, but the explanations behind them fascinate and intrigue.
The recognition of the male body as a sex object in this century links us strongly to the Renaissance and further back to antiquity.
March 30, 2023
Besides the obvious, I thought this book was really interesting for art history reasons. I don’t know a lot about the history of photography so this was a nice supplement to my scarce historical art knowledge. Through this book I found George Platt Lynes, also known as my new favorite photographer. Something about how he shoots his figures brings out the humanity in them. They aren’t just images, they’re people. I would love to explore more of his work.
I enjoyed one of the premises that this book was created on, highlighted best in this quote: “‘Nude women seem to be in their natural state; men, for some reason, merely look undressed’” (299). No one is surprised when they walk into a museum and see a female nude, but male nudes are jarring. Though little text is featured (who actually reads the articles?), I thought Leddicks approach this overarching theme and the overall content of this book very enjoyable.
This will definitely be a coffee table book
I enjoyed one of the premises that this book was created on, highlighted best in this quote: “‘Nude women seem to be in their natural state; men, for some reason, merely look undressed’” (299). No one is surprised when they walk into a museum and see a female nude, but male nudes are jarring. Though little text is featured (who actually reads the articles?), I thought Leddicks approach this overarching theme and the overall content of this book very enjoyable.
This will definitely be a coffee table book
September 23, 2025
⭐️NOTA: 7.5
Este libro de fotografía ofrece una propuesta coherente y bien construida, que invita a contemplarlo tanto desde una mirada estética como desde una lectura más íntima. La obra reúne imágenes de gran calidad, con una notable diversidad de estilos y aproximaciones visuales que enriquecen el conjunto y lo dotan de ritmo.
Destaca especialmente la representación del desnudo masculino, que se muestra en registros distintos: a veces con un enfoque artístico y otras desde una crudeza más directa. Esa oscilación, lejos de resultar contradictoria, marca un recorrido de evolución y crecimiento que se percibe con claridad a lo largo de las páginas.
En definitiva, el libro cumple lo que promete. Es una obra cuidada, interesante y consistente, que sabe equilibrar exploración estética con honestidad visual.
Este libro de fotografía ofrece una propuesta coherente y bien construida, que invita a contemplarlo tanto desde una mirada estética como desde una lectura más íntima. La obra reúne imágenes de gran calidad, con una notable diversidad de estilos y aproximaciones visuales que enriquecen el conjunto y lo dotan de ritmo.
Destaca especialmente la representación del desnudo masculino, que se muestra en registros distintos: a veces con un enfoque artístico y otras desde una crudeza más directa. Esa oscilación, lejos de resultar contradictoria, marca un recorrido de evolución y crecimiento que se percibe con claridad a lo largo de las páginas.
En definitiva, el libro cumple lo que promete. Es una obra cuidada, interesante y consistente, que sabe equilibrar exploración estética con honestidad visual.
April 22, 2024
Hay una diferencia entre tomar un libro de desnudo masculino y leer esta versión.
Y es que hace un pequeño resumen sobre cómo y por qué hemos tenido estas propuestas. Al inicio, las fotos emulaban cuerpos mitológicos, desnudos para usarse como modelos para los dibujantes de publicidad, que ya después les agregaban la ropa o accesorios acorde a lo que deseaban vender.
Ya después se ve la exploración del cuerpo, la figura y la iluminación. Incluso la inclusión de estas fotos más directas al porno y el deguste masculino.
Lo único malo es que el libro pesa demasiado, y aun así es de tamaño pequeño y algunas fotografías no se aprecian bien. Pero sí es ques una muy buena compilación.
Y es que hace un pequeño resumen sobre cómo y por qué hemos tenido estas propuestas. Al inicio, las fotos emulaban cuerpos mitológicos, desnudos para usarse como modelos para los dibujantes de publicidad, que ya después les agregaban la ropa o accesorios acorde a lo que deseaban vender.
Ya después se ve la exploración del cuerpo, la figura y la iluminación. Incluso la inclusión de estas fotos más directas al porno y el deguste masculino.
Lo único malo es que el libro pesa demasiado, y aun así es de tamaño pequeño y algunas fotografías no se aprecian bien. Pero sí es ques una muy buena compilación.
March 26, 2025
We live in a very special time in all of the history of humanity. How can I possibly own a book that was once deemed unimaginable?
This is a great and sexy anthology of the male nude photography, once considered vulgar and inappropriate (Some people still think it is).
The quality of the photograph collection is great.
This is my favorite coffee table book, I’m just careful not to let the puritans see it in my living room.
This is a great and sexy anthology of the male nude photography, once considered vulgar and inappropriate (Some people still think it is).
The quality of the photograph collection is great.
This is my favorite coffee table book, I’m just careful not to let the puritans see it in my living room.
January 2, 2024
Accompanying an array of photos, the commentaries that span from the 19th century through the 20th century offer an easy mix of historical, political, and social histories to help appreciate the subject and the work of the photographers.
September 17, 2025
i mean, its a photo compilation that lacks such diversity (of all kinds) it seems youre seeing over and over a similar photo from different perspectives. boring. good for [limited] art references tho.
February 16, 2020
A beautiful description of the nude male form in photographs from the 19th century to this day. Artistic, interesting, sexy, beautiful. Different forms, sizes, types, hues. Wonderful.
November 29, 2020
Great historical of Men photography and how it were start at. Loved it!
January 9, 2021
Un Taschen comme on les aime : richement illustré et sans chichi
July 9, 2022
Classy as always with a publication by Taschen 👌
December 12, 2022
A great collection of images from several great photographers. The male nude often gets overlooked but the images here show so much beauty of a man’s physique.
November 8, 2023
It would have been nice to see some plus size men here, history doesn’t show this side as it’s not what seen as beautiful unfortunately.
September 23, 2025
3,5
quite interesting
quite interesting
March 18, 2025
El desnudo masculino ha desempeñado un papel menos evidente en la iconografía occidental que su contraparte femenina. No obstante, el compendio de David Leddick constituye un homenaje a esta forma de arte, en su día ilícita y en constante evolución.
Desde el erotismo anónimo del siglo XIX hasta las provocativas obras contemporáneas de David Hockney y Duane Michaels, Leddick nos sumerge en un universo visual que explora la belleza masculina a través de composiciones clásicas, imágenes lúdicas y provocaciones explícitas.
A través de su obra, Leddick revisa y analiza en profundidad las composiciones, posturas y roles de género presentes en este género artístico tan poco explorado.
El autor nos presenta un recorrido por la obra de maestros como Herbert List, George Platt Lynes o Robert Mapplethorpe, así como por las imágenes homoeróticas del barón Wilhelm von Gloeden, famoso por sus representaciones de jóvenes desnudos en Sicilia. Además, incluye ilustraciones de la revista Physique Pictorial, pionera en la edición de temática homosexual a mediados del siglo XX.
La obra de Leddick es un valioso aporte a la historia del arte, que reivindica la importancia del desnudo masculino y su capacidad para desafiar convenciones y explorar nuevas formas de expresión artística.
Desde el erotismo anónimo del siglo XIX hasta las provocativas obras contemporáneas de David Hockney y Duane Michaels, Leddick nos sumerge en un universo visual que explora la belleza masculina a través de composiciones clásicas, imágenes lúdicas y provocaciones explícitas.
A través de su obra, Leddick revisa y analiza en profundidad las composiciones, posturas y roles de género presentes en este género artístico tan poco explorado.
El autor nos presenta un recorrido por la obra de maestros como Herbert List, George Platt Lynes o Robert Mapplethorpe, así como por las imágenes homoeróticas del barón Wilhelm von Gloeden, famoso por sus representaciones de jóvenes desnudos en Sicilia. Además, incluye ilustraciones de la revista Physique Pictorial, pionera en la edición de temática homosexual a mediados del siglo XX.
La obra de Leddick es un valioso aporte a la historia del arte, que reivindica la importancia del desnudo masculino y su capacidad para desafiar convenciones y explorar nuevas formas de expresión artística.
February 9, 2017
I have to remark on a certain aspect of this publication. I had the opportunity to see both a 1998 edition, and the newest 2015 one (which is the one I own). The 2015 edition has a lot of photos removed. I don't know if it was done to save on ink or why, but I'm talking of hundreds of images just cut out of the book. Some I won't miss, and a few cuts I can completely understand. But there were a lot of beautiful quality images in the original edition that you can no longer find in the 2015 book. What's better in the 2015 edition is that it's a hardcover with a decent spine that does not break apart, but many of these sacrifices are unforgivable (Herbert List, George Platt Lynes, a couple of gorgeous images by Greg Gorman, just to name a few examples).
It is a decent introductory book into the male nude, and especially worth for the historical pictures it includes. But the format is undeserving for the subject matter. This book deserves to be printed in a larger size and have all of the pictures in the original edition reproduced.
It is a decent introductory book into the male nude, and especially worth for the historical pictures it includes. But the format is undeserving for the subject matter. This book deserves to be printed in a larger size and have all of the pictures in the original edition reproduced.
June 17, 2015
Text in three languages (English, French, German) and absolutely beautiful photography, from the 19th century onwards. It is interesting to see the change in male nude photography over the years.
One of the photos (The Swimmer, 1983, by Dianora Niccolini) can also be found on the front cover of my edition. It is an excellent example of some of the gorgeous, and exquisite, photos shown in this book.
One of the photos (The Swimmer, 1983, by Dianora Niccolini) can also be found on the front cover of my edition. It is an excellent example of some of the gorgeous, and exquisite, photos shown in this book.
May 26, 2016
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I didn't expect to learn very much when I opened it, yet I learned quite a lot. I found the history fascinating and the photos interesting and honestly more tasteful than I expected.
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March 5, 2009The tiny re-issue is unsatisfactory, impossible to peruse photos due to their small size and the thickness of its back ie. narrow apperture when opening it.
February 15, 2024
A beautiful and cohesive history of the male body (both erotic and not) in art from the 1800s up until 1999.
October 24, 2018
An historical treasure of male nude photographs of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews