Great Danes in Art I - Kristian Zahrtmann

Today will be the first of several series featuring important figures from Danish art.  Kristian Zahrtmann (1843-1917) was a pre-eminent figure in late 19th and early 20th Denmark, not only completing a number of successful works himself, but also by teaching and mentoring.  We will be looking at his male nudes and semi-nudes today.  I don't have a photographer attribution for the photo above, but the handsome portrait below is by Johan Rohde from 1896.

 

Job and His Friends

If Job is the naked guy in Job and His Friends, he looks like he's dying.

 

Two Versions of Adam

Zahrtmann did two versions of Adam.  He called the one above Adam in the Garden of Eden

and the one below Adam in Paradise.  I guess paradise didn't have snakes.  These paintings, 

despite the vines covering the crotches, were considered too erotic for public exhibition,

and they went straight into the hands of private collections.

 

Nero's Dancer

Mr. Zahrtmann used a rather masculine model for Nero's Dancer.

 

Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son shows how Kristian Zahrtmann went back and forth 

between Classical and biblical themes when it came to painting nude men.

 

Socrates and Alcibiades

Kristian Zahrtmann did two very different takes 

on the story of Socrates and Alcibiades.

 

Teacher and mentor

 Mr. Zahrtmann was also a teacher and mentor to other Danish artists.  

This painting of his teaching studio is by Poul Christiansen from 1899.

 

Cain

This representation of Cain captures the crux of the story rather well.

 

Prometheus

This is Mr. Zahrtmann's take on Prometheus.

 

Self Portrait

Closing out the set with a self portrait from late in Mr. Zahrtmann's life.

 

Physique Model "Sailors"

In the world of 1950s and 60s physique photography, all one had to do to be a sailor was to put 

on a swabbie cap.  I'm not saying that none of today's models could have been real sailors,

but most probably weren't.  We start with an AMG guy at the low end of believability.

 

Hairy

This hairy brute might be looking for a bunkmate.

 

 

Larry Madden

Here we have Larry Madden and what may be a bayonet in a Bobco photo.

 

Colt Gangway

Jim French of Colt did a photo set called Gangway that included this picture.

Unfortunately, I've never been able to find the names of the models.

 

Earl Lawrence

This smiling character is Earl Lawrence in a photo donated by Brian E.

Thanks, Brian!

 

AMG?

I get a late AMG vibe from this pair.

 

Rick Slusher

This is Rick Slusher (and his happy trail) by AMG.

 

Forward

This model is putting his best attriabute forward.

 

Driftwood

That piece of driftwood looks familiar, but I still can't place the model of photographer.

 

Smoldering

Our last physique model sailor is giving us one of those smoldering looks.

 

Reclining Nudes

Today we look at reclining nudes who do not appear to be the usual physique models,

beginning with one of my favorite Muybridge models from Plate 258.

 

Amateur

I get the feeling that this one is either amateur or else cheaply produced porn.

 

Mystery

The style of this one makes me think of George Platt Lynes, but I have no info on it.

 

Tumblr item

I got this one during the Sack of Tumblr with no information.

 

Waiting for a call

Expecting a call at any moment, Wilbur was hopeful of some companionship.

 

On the beach

I bet this guy stopped the foot traffic on the nude beach.

 

Bunk bed

Do they allow cameras in jail?  This picture looks like it was made in one,

or at least a close facsimile of one.  A guy has to make pocket money somehow.

 

Working boy?

This looks like one of those all male bordello denizens who made extra money 

on the side posing nude for French postcards of a type sold in back alleys.

 

Rough trade?

This one looks like it came from one of those 12 piece set of porn stills 

labeled "rough trade."  I made that up, but perhaps you see my point.

 

Art?

My source said that our last reclining nude of the day 

came from a private art collector's album.