A blindfolded man looks upwards as he sits naked in partial cover by shadow.
This photograph was suggested by heartbreaknympho. I fancy it because the lighting is superb and I’m oddly intrigued by that purplish haze at the corner of the frame. But of course, I also love the bare hint of a smile on the model’s face. When combined with his open posture leaning back on his hands and his raised face, it’s as if he somehow knows he’s being looked at, and admired.
I like this implicit storyline because it’s frustratingly rare to find any modern media, imagery or otherwise, in which men not only are the erotic subject but also look as though they’re enjoying that role. Contrary to what many people think, the absence of sexualized depictions of men in today’s mainstream outlets is an anomaly of our time born from unnaturally rigid and culturally-defined gender roles; it has few equivalents in historical work. In fact, as the consistent theme of Saint Sebastian in suggestions to this site showcase, throughout history artists have highlighted the beauty of the male form in myriad diverse ways.
(via britisshameless)