- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: St Martin's Press; New edition edition (10 Oct 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 031227694X
- ISBN-13: 978-0312276942
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,607,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
"Ramakers, an art historian [based] in Belgium, surveys the career of Tom of Finland, the nom de gay of Touko Laaksonen, born in Finland . . . Astutely delineating Tom's influences—from Renaissance religious art to the work of Paul Cadmus, Charles Demuth, and Kenneth Anger—Ramakers places his subject in the context of both high and commercial art . . . His discussion of Tom's idealized view of masculinity and its relationship to state-sponsored art of the Third Reich is nuanced and illuminating."—"Publishers Weekly"
"Tom of Finland has evolved from one of the 20th century's most prolific under-the-radar pornographers to a gay cultural icon. ["Dirty Pictures"], lavishly illustrated with his most characteristic work, explores the underlying constructs of masculinity in his work and its ramifications within gay male culture."--"Frontiers"
""Dirty Pictures" works on a number of levels. As a reevaluation of the art of Touko Laaksonen, it succeeds admirably; as a di
"Tom of Finland has evolved from one of the 20th century's most prolific under-the-radar pornographers to a gay cultural icon. ["Dirty Pictures"], lavishly illustrated with his most characteristic work, explores the underlying constructs of masculinity in his work and its ramifications within gay male culture."--"Frontiers"
""Dirty Pictures" works on a number of levels. As a reevaluation of the art of Touko Laaksonen, it succeeds admirably; as a di
Product Description
The art of Touko Laakonsen (1920-1991), famous throughout the world as Tom of Finland, has had an incredible defining impact upon gay culture at large - an impact that arguable exceeds that of any other artist working in the latter half of the 20th century. His highly erotic images of horny leathermen, cops, sailors, mechanics and labourers have become almost stereotypical gay images. But what is most remarkable is that Tom of Finland was not a traditional fine artist - his work was most commonly viewed as gay pornography, and rightly so. Yet it is a body of work whose erotic and emotional power remains unabated to this day. Available in paperback for the first time, DIRTY PICTURES employs a combination of methods from the arts sciences and culture studies to offer a fascinating insight into his work. Lavishly illustrated throughout, this isn't a dry theoretical study - rather, it is a lively and highly readable work about the functioning of gay porn. For his millions of fans throughout the world, this study of Tom of Finland brings uncommon insight into his best loved works.
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First Sentence
The route Tom of Finland's work has traveled over the four decades during which he was active as a draftsman is somewhat surprising. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
The route Tom of Finland's work has traveled over the four decades during which he was active as a draftsman is somewhat surprising. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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4 reviews
19 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Tom Tom Tom
10 April 2000
Format:Hardcover
If you love Tom of Finland, you will absolutely love this book. Seemingly hundreds of his prints, even such rarities from his early work, grace this book and give it a flavor that seems to be lacking from other pictorials. This book is utterly delightful and insightful as to the man himself. It was wonderful and I'd recommend it to anyone. Five stars all the way!
12 of 16 people found the following review helpful
A Must for Your Coffee Table
22 July 2000
Format:Hardcover
"The art of Touko Laaksonen (1920 1991), famous throughout the world as Tom of Finland, has had an incredible and defining impact upon the culture at large an impact that arguably exceeds that of any other artist working in the latter half of the 20th century. It is perhaps even more remarkable that Tom of Finland was not a traditional fine artist his work was most commonly regarded as gay pornography, and rightly so. Yet it is art that not only had a tremendous impact upon the emerging gay culture worldwide but whose erotic and emotional power remains unabated to this day. For millions of fans throughout the world, as well as those unfamiliar with Tom of Finlandıs art, this book brings uncommon insight into a decidedly uncommon body of work." - text excerpt from Stonewall Inn
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Tom & his beefy men
29 Feb 2008
Format:Hardcover
All gay men should know who Tom of Finland is. You're bound to see a picture or two in gay bookstores, bars and galleries. If you're not familiar with Tom, then you need to get out more often!
I found *Dirty Pictures* not just fascinating with these wonderful and eye-catching pictures but educational with Tom of Finland's background and his intentions/purposes behind each pictures.
It's amazing how having a network with friends can lead one to be legendary, if you could call it that. Prior to meeting Andy Warhol and Robert Mapplethorne, Tom of Finland's works were just considered pornographic. Over time, that gradually changed.
I wished this book contained all of Tom's pictures, along with a background for each of them. However, with what knowledge that I've learned here, I cannot wait to see the other works of Tom's and do my own analyses. That's the fun part.
I found *Dirty Pictures* not just fascinating with these wonderful and eye-catching pictures but educational with Tom of Finland's background and his intentions/purposes behind each pictures.
It's amazing how having a network with friends can lead one to be legendary, if you could call it that. Prior to meeting Andy Warhol and Robert Mapplethorne, Tom of Finland's works were just considered pornographic. Over time, that gradually changed.
I wished this book contained all of Tom's pictures, along with a background for each of them. However, with what knowledge that I've learned here, I cannot wait to see the other works of Tom's and do my own analyses. That's the fun part.
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