Ralph Kelly Vintage Butch Nude Male B&W Art Photograph

Artisan and Design: Photographs: Studies Pre 1960: item #660771

Terrific 1950s vintage physique photograph by Ralph Kelly of Los Angeles. Kelly, like many of his contemporaries, photographed for the assorted physique publications of the era. The photograph offered here is a very stark and direct studio image featuring a young, blond model sporting a USA eagle tattoo. Kelly clearly had an excellent understanding of lighting and this image shows the mastery of that skill, with the model's head and shoulders highlighted while the the rest of his body and the po... Click for details

Nude Marine w/Tattoos Bruce of LA Physique Photograph

Artisan and Design: Photographs: Studies Pre 1960: item #640335

Excellent and early physique photograph of an unknown muscular model by Bruce of Los Angeles. In spite of extensive research, the model Marine (see forearm tattoo) remains a John Doe, but no matter, this is a superb studio image from the early 1950s. The photograph has an interesting contrast of classicism meeting a modern time with a tattooed model, presented in traditional fashion on a pedestal. Exceptional print quality. Measures 4"x5" and is printed on double-weight, fiber paper with warm to... Click for details

Rare Al Urban Art Harris Nude Physique Photograph

Artisan and Design: Photographs: Studies Pre 1960: item #638758

Al Urban is considered one of the groundbreaking figural photographers of the early 20th century, with a career starting in the 1930s when he offered nude images of New Jersey bodybuilder David Asnis in a physical culture magazine. He had an innate sense of composition and understanding of the male form, capturing images with a respect and classicism that elevated them to fine art status. This photograph is a spectacular nude figure study of 1950s bodybuilder Arthur Harris. Aside from the rarity... Click for details

Rare Al Urban Fred DeGroot Nude Physique Photograph

Artisan and Design: Photographs: Studies Pre 1950: item #638757

Intriguing allegorical photograph by Al Urban, featuring well-known muscle man Fred DeGroot in a clash of strength with an unknown model. Several images from this session were released by Urban and remain popular with collectors today...and a rare commodity, since so much of Urban's inventory of both negatives and prints were repeatedly destroyed by the police due to continuous indecency charges. The images of this particular set capture more motion by the models, accenting the muscular form and... Click for details

Phil Lambert WPG Don Whitman Physique Photograph

Artisan and Design: Photographs: Studies Pre 1960: item #636627

Classic physique photograph from lensman Don Whitman, founder of Western Photography Guild (WPG), featuring frequent and perennial favorite model Phil Lambert. This image probably dates to 1950, early in the studio's history and is a fine example of academic study being melded with an artistic representation of the powerful male form. Exceptional print quality. Measures 4"x5" and is printed on double-weight, fiber paper with pearl/mezzotint texture....in excellent vintage condition with negligib... Click for details

Phil Lambert WPG Don Whitman Nude Physique Photo

Artisan and Design: Photographs: Studies Pre 1960: item #636623

Don Whitman's Western Photography Guild (WPG) created some of the most memorable physique photos of the golden age, both in studio and out of doors. This image is of Phil Lambert and probably dates to about 1950 (+/-). Whitman had an excellent sense of composition and this seated pose is a terrific example of what physique photography was all about....masterful. Outstanding print quality. Measures 4"x5" and is printed on double-weight, fiber paper with pearl/mezzotint texture....in exceptional v... Click for details

Les Demi Dieux Nude Richard Bennett Photograph

Artisan and Design: Photographs: Studies Pre 1970: item #632925

Classic vintage photograph by Danny Fitzgerald, or as he was better known, Les Demi-Dieux....one of the most notable physique photographers of the 1950s and 60s. Fitzgerald's work captured the youth of the day in Brooklyn neighborhoods as they hung out with their buddies and hot rods. Some of these same young men are also the subjects of the vast body of figural work that Les Demi Dieux became well known for, perhaps most notably, Richard Bennett, the handsome and muscular brunette with a rip... Click for details

Les Demi Dieux Nude Richard Bennett Photograph

Artisan and Design: Photographs: Studies Pre 1970: item #632911

Classic vintage photograph by Danny Fitzgerald, or as he was better known, Les Demi-Dieux....one of the most notable physique photographers of the 1950s and 60s. Fitzgerald's work captured the youth of the day in Brooklyn neighborhoods as they hung out with their buddies and hot rods. Some of these same young men are also the subjects of the vast body of figural work that Les Demi Dieux became well known for, perhaps most notably, Richard Bennett, the handsome and muscular brunette with a rip... Click for details

HERB NOLAN ORIGINAL B/W PRINT OF MUDDY WATERS

Artisan and Design: Photographs: Portraits Pre 1990: item #587977
MuddyWater

Herb Nolan is a photographer and writer living in Chicago whose photographic work includes not only jazz and blues subjects but images jumping from city life in Chicago to rural America and Mexico. His photos have been seen on record album covers, displayed at the Illinois State Museum, and published in newspapers and magazines including Down Beat, Playboy, Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times, and Chicago Reader. This original print, signed on the back, is of blues giant Muddy Waters at his h... Click for details

B/W ORIGINAL PRINT OF BLUES GIANT JOHN LEE HOOKER

Artisan and Design: Photographs: Portraits Pre 1990: item #587975
JohnLeeHoo

Herb Nolan is a photographer and writer living in Chicago whose photographic work includes not only jazz and blues subjects but images jumping from city life in Chicago to rural America and Mexico. His photos have been seen on record album covers, displayed at the Illinois State Museum, and published in newspapers and magazines including Down Beat, Playboy, Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times, and Chicago Reader. This original print, signed on the back, is of blues giant John Lee Hooker. It m... Click for details