George Platt Lynes (1907-1955) is the subject of a documentary shortly to be released in United States theatres entitled “Hidden Master: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes”.
His story is recounted by a former lover, art historians, museum curators, former models, family members, former employees, film directors, gallerists and most importantly his photographs and correspondence by and about him.
Lynes’ father was an Episcopalian minister and his mother a New York high society matron. His parents sent him to Paris in 1925 at 18 years of age. He travelled between Paris and New York until the outbreak of war seemed inevitable in 1934 when he returned to New York an out of the closet homosexual thriving in a steady threesome spiced up by numerous dalliances with the “boys”.
Lynes initial desire to be a writer shifted to photography after his realization he hadn’t the talent to write. In 1932 at MOMA’s initial photographic exhibit “Murals by American Painters and Photographs” his work received critical acclaim. He became a well known and well remunerated fashion photographer in New York moving away from the prevalent “realism style” into a classical one.
A profligate sexually and financially he enjoyed the artistic party life of the wealthy set in New York where at certain levels homosexuality was accepted. Attracting the artistic elite, he became a “cross pollinator” of culture. There was little room in his circle for non-beautiful people. Egotistical and self centred one commentator referred to him as the personification of a grand queen.
His socialization circles and his job as a photographer gave him access to a steady stream of homosexuals particularly as official photographer for the New York City Ballet. At some point his penchant for male eroticism turned into a passion and perhaps it is what he will be remembered for. Remembrance may not be that easy as before his death he destroyed many of his negatives and photographs in his desire to be remembered in a certain way. Large collections of his work can be found at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. He had befriended Dr. Alfred Kinsey who in his research of human sexuality found Lynes’ connection into actual real-life homosexuality useful.
How should we see the legacy of Lynes? As one commentator states he was a gay hero both beloved and fascinating and an incredible photographer that still awaits a major retrospective with his “dicey” male eroticism photographic legacy. Female nudity in art has been widely accepted but male nudity…..apparently not.
A staggering rich panoply of photographs and observations and commentary on male eroticism in American photography. Deserving of numerous viewings to soak it all in.
Directed by Sam Shahid. Theatrical and VOD release on 31May2024.
You can watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A88wsVyfV9w
RKS 2024 Film Rating 89/100.
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 