Cadmus - Part 1

This one’s a two-parter—and honestly, it has to be. Paul Cadmus’s work is just too broad, too influential, and too important to squeeze into a single post. We owe him a lot—especially when it comes to putting male beauty and same-sex desire, both romantic and erotic, out into the open.

Portrait of Paul Cadmus by Luigi Lucioni

Paul Cadmus (1904–1999) lived on both sides of the camera and the canvas. Known for his stylized, often provocative male figures, he blurred the line between observation and desire—drawing and painting bodies he also photographed, studied, and lived alongside. Cadmus is right there at that turning point where the male form starts shifting from something coded… to something a little harder to ignore.

George Tooker by Paul Cadmus

Male Nude - Paul Cadmus

Male Nude - Paul Cadmus

With Jared French and Margaret, it’s PaJaMa (Paul, Jared, Margaret)—passing the camera around, photographing each other and their circle, often nude, often staged. Lovers, collaborators, co-conspirators.

PaJaMa L-R Paul Cadmus, Jared French, and Margaret French

Jared French by Paul Cadmus

Jared French by Paul Cadmus

Their orbit included George Platt Lynes, along with artists like George Tooker and Luigi Lucioni, and extended outward through Lynes to figures like authors, Christopher Isherwood and Lincoln Kirstein, co-founder of New York City Ballet with revolutionary choreographer, George Balanchine. Different mediums, same people… all feeding each other ideas, and showing up in each other’s work in ways that make authorship a little fuzzy.

Horseplay - Paul Cadmus

Narcissus - Paul Cadmus

Jerry - Paul Cadmus

Thoughts?

THIS JUST IN!! Mystery Man Solved!!

 A quick shout out to my friend, Pat, who helped me solve the Mystery Man identity from my April 2, 2026, post.

Drum roll!!............

His name (or pseudonym) is:  BOB BROWN

So satifying;). Thanks, Pat!!

Both Sides of the Camera

“Down, in front of the column,” George says in his easy Mid-Atlantic accent. “Fred—sit. William… just behind him. Closer.”

He watches as William folds in over his brother, their bodies aligning.

“Turn—both of you. Fred… do something with your hands.”

A pause as he tilts the camera. “Yes… hold it.”

1. Ritter Brothers by George Platt Lynes

Like many other disciplines, physique photographers often started as apprentices—modeling for another photographer before stepping out on their own.

2. Ritter Brothers; Fred (L) and William (R)

The Ritter Brothers, Fred and William, posed for George Platt Lynes (1907–1955) before making images themselves in the 1930s—shooting male nudes from their gym, including each other, and selling them for a profit.

3. Fred Ritter

4. William Ritter

5. Bill Hillgardner by the Ritter Brothers

Bob Mizer (1922–1992) modeled for Frederick Kovert in his Hollywood studio before launching the Athletic Model Guild and Physique Pictorial, moving into both photography and film, while also building a respected commercial career beyond physique work.

6. Bob Mizer by Frederick Kovert

7. Jim Paris by Bob Mizer

Joe Tiffenbach (1923–1992) modeled for Ralph Kelly, Bob Mizer, Dave Martin, and Bruce of L.A. before turning to his own photography and later gay adult film work.

8. Joe Tiffenbach by Unknown Photographer (possibly Ralph Kelly)

9. Chad Johnson by Joe Tiffenbach

David Hurles (1944–2023), aka Old Reliable, modeled for Guild Press, was mentored for decades by Mizer, and later created his own raw, unmistakable body of work—often photographing and filming himself with rougher, unpredictable models who became part of his signature style.

10. David Hurles by Unknown Photographer

11. Champ by David Hurles aka Old Reliable

Like most underground movements, the record is incomplete—names lost, identities blurred, artifacts destroyed—but it’s hard not to imagine there were many more who made that same move from subject to creator.  These are just a few examples, but I hope to discover more apprentices who know both sides of the camera.

Feedback?

Does anyone have solid resources for tracking the history of the Ritter Brothers? And I know of a few more examples in vintage gay porn e.g. Al Parker and Jeff Stryker, but if you have other earlier examples, please send them my way.

Kovert

“Alright, boys—little oil, help each other out,” Freddy says. “I can’t risk the camera.”

Sid grins at Gene. “Careful now… don’t get carried away.”

“Lock arms—good. Now give me everything… but don’t go stiff on me.”

Freddy pauses, then nods. “That’s it—that’s the picture.”

1. Unknown Models (locking arms)

Frederick Kovert (in makeup)

I generally focus on models—but I’m making another exception here. Frederick Kovert (1893–1949) worked on both sides of the camera. He didn’t pose nude, but he exposed himself in other ways—through drag, film, and photography—pushing at gender and sexual norms. I see him as a key link between later homoerotic artists like Paul Cadmus and George Quaintance and the rise of physique photography.

2. Unknown Model (left hand in fist)

3. Larry Carr (flexed pecs)

4. Jimmy Lewis (thanks Boz!!)

Kovert moved through early Hollywood as a silent film actor, makeup artist, and costume designer (The Wizard of Oz, 1925—pre-Hays Code). Then he turns to photographing the male nude—not just as study, but as something meant to be desired. He worked under different names—Ko Vert, Kovert of Hollywood—a trend later picked up by photographers like Lon of New York and Bruce of L.A. 

5. Unknown Model (sitting on shiny draped bench)

6. Unkown Model (seated hirsute)

7. Unknown Model (backside on plinth)

Like many who came after him, his studio was raided and his work labeled obscene. Bob Mizer apprenticed under him before launching the Athletic Model Guild and Physique Pictorial. Kovert sits at an interesting moment in history—right where a number of fields with strong gay influence were starting to take shape. If you follow the threads—physique photography, film, dance, theatre, bodybuilding, drag, even early gay porn—you’ll keep bumping into him along the way.

8. Unknown Model (column, sword, and wood)

9. Unknown Model (dip on bench)

10. Buck Lewis (seated on draped box)

I’m personally drawn to him. He died at 56, by his own hand, and I can’t help but feel that loss. I would’ve loved to meet him.

Kovert in drag

Thoughts?

I don't know if he kept records of his model's names, maybe to protect them if they hadn't started using pseudonyms yet or if they were taken in police raids or destroyed after his passing, but if you have any ID's please share.  I'm also not positive all of these photos are actually by Kovert, but that is how the image files are attributed.  Feel free to correct any errors here.

Endowments

“Alright, Ed—take a seat on the box,” Bob says, squinting into the light. “Lean back on your right elbow… yeah, stretch out.”

Ed settles in, glancing down—realizing exactly what’s landing front and center from Bob’s angle.

“Hey—eyes up,” Bob calls. “Look at Chuck.”

Ed looks past the camera—Chuck standing there, slicked up for their next shoot, holding Bob’s monkey. The thing suddenly grabs a fistful of Chuck’s hair—

“Ouch! You little fucker!”

Ed laughs, the pose loosening, his whole body falling into place without trying.

“That’s it,” Bob says, quick on the shutter. “Stay right there.”

1. Ed Wyant (heavy weight)

Today’s theme—Endowments—felt right for tax day… because what are we really talking about here if not assets? I’ve been making my way around the body lately—culo, huevos—so now we’re looking at the full package. And this part of the male body carries a strange charge. It’s hidden, joked about, policed—called obscene… even ugly. Too small, it’s mocked. Too big, it’s vulgar. Either way, it’s something we’re told to keep out of sight.

2. Marty Stevens (redhead and red headboard)

3. Norm Tousley (on a pedistal as he should be)

You can see that tension in early physique photography—posing straps, draping, fig leaves. But what happens when his cup runneth over? That’s where it gets interesting.

4. Robert Coney (arms crossed)

5. Kim Dennis (Oh captain!)

6. Bob Enslo aka Enslow (dropping in)

Photographers had to learn how to light it, frame it, present it—heat, oil, timing… knowing the moment. There’s craft there, sure—but also a kind of quiet rebellion. Bringing something into the light that wasn’t supposed to be seen.

7. Frank Trigner (sideburns and side curve)

8. Bruce Bjorn (scandanavian in the sun)

And for me? I find it beautiful. There’s weight, proportion, presence—something distinctly 'adult male', matured, fully developed, ripened to perfection. It’s hard to look away. And maybe that’s the point. Putting it on film, attaching a face to it—it pushes back. I’m here. I take up space. Deal with it.

9. Mark J (rainbow pillowcases)

10. Alain Jourdan (on white towel)

Thoughts?

Anyone know Mark J's full last name (#9) and/or have a better version of #10?  There are many more noteworthy examples in this category e.g. Nick Poulos, Bill Eld, and others, but these stood out to me today;) Enjoy!

Artists - Part 2 - 1940's to Today

Picking up from yesterday, things start to loosen up. From the 1940s on, the work feels less like “study” and more like… alright, we know what we’re doing here. Different mediums come into play—pencil, charcoal, illustration—faster, more direct, and not trying as hard to pass off as purely academic.

Quaintance really marks the shift, bridging painting and photography around the male nude, his idealized cowboys and laborers sliding easily into the physique world. From there, you get Harry Bush with his hyper-detailed, all-American “boy next door” types, and Tom of Finland turning the dial all the way up on masculinity. All three were featured in Mizer’s Physique Pictorial, right at the center of that mid-century moment where art, photography, and desire all start to overlap. Same subject, same fascination… just a lot more overt.

George Quaintance (1902–1957) was one of the early architects of mid-century physique art, including both painting and photography. His hyper-idealized men—cowboys, soldiers, laborers—were staged just far enough from reality to pass, but not by much. He helped define that “macho” gay aesthetic and influenced generations of artists after him. If you recognize the look, there’s a good chance it traces back to him.

Shore Leave - George Quaintance

George Quaintance

Quaintance with his autographed painting Havasu Creek

Paul Cadmus (1904–1999) painted scenes of urban life that were sharp, satirical, and often a little uncomfortable. Alongside that, he created highly refined drawings of the male nude—controlled, precise, and undeniably charged. His work, which also included paintings and photgraphy, sits in that space between social critique and erotic observation, which makes it feel both intellectual and personal at the same time.

Male Nude - Paul Cadmus

Paul Cadmus

Touko Laaksonen aka Tom of Finland (1920–1991) redefined the visual language of gay masculinity. His drawings of hyper-masculine men—leather, uniforms, confidence dialed all the way up—became iconic. Working mostly in pencil, he created thousands of images that didn’t just reflect gay culture, they helped shape it. Bold, unapologetic, and impossible to ignore.

Peachy Kings - Tom of Finland

Touko Laaksonen aka Tom of Finland

Harry Bush (1926–1994) brought a different energy to the physique world—less stylized, more “guy next door.” His work was detailed, realistic, and grounded in everyday settings, which made it feel more accessible… and sometimes more intimate. Discovered by Bob Mizer and published in Physique Pictorial, he helped bridge the gap between classic beefcake and the more open expressions that followed. He was very reclusive and sadly destroyed much of his work for fear of being outed and losing his veteran's pension.

Untitled - Harry Bush

Harry Bush

Mark Beard (b. 1956) is a contemporary artist who plays with identity in a really interesting way—creating multiple fictional artist personas, each with their own style, biography, and body of work. One of the most well-known is Bruce Sargeant, a kind of imagined early 20th-century painter whose homoerotic images feel so authentic they almost pass as rediscovered history. Beard uses these aliases to move across different styles and eras, pushing back against the idea that an artist has to be just one thing. It’s part performance, part scholarship, and all very intentional.

Five Gymnasts in Training - Bruce Sargent

Mark Beard aka Bruce Sargeant

Thoughts?

Have any more info on any of these artists?  Beard is still alive...anyone met him or know him well?  Do you have favorites among these included here or others I should check out?  Please share.