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international

The focus of the “loving” is men loving men, they were immediately struck by the daring of
and the photographs bear witness to obviously two men who were, so to speak, willing to put
affectionate – and often downright passionate on the record their strong attachment to each
– relationships between two members of the other by letting themselves be photographed
male gender. in each others’ arms, obviously in love, an
exhibition that at the time – and still in far
The photo on the catalog and the exposition too many places – could result in criminal
poster is of two manifestly “working class” prosecution and permanent disgrace.
men: dirty hands, dirty coveralls, dirty
faces and necks, unambiguously drawn to The exhibition lays out some 400 of these
each other in a warm, close and contented “pix” (pics < pictures, as common usage
embrace. If this belies the long prevailing idea would now have it), most lying flat in glass-
of gayness as a phenomenon found primarily covered showcases, their gentle illumination
in the artistic world and among men of means emanating from directly over head. Leaning
able to create for themselves a life both apart over the glass cases, one finds oneself casting
from and anchored in conventional Western a shadow on the images and constantly
society, highlighting the image has achieved its shifting position to get a better view. But the
purpose, for the majority of the photographs lighting scheme simply reflects the fragility of
most emphatically do not correspond to light-sensitive paper that cannot tolerate long
the long widespread and still disturbingly exposure to strong light.
common perception of gay men.
In all, the layout of the photos (mostly of small
For many, this will be both a shock and format) throughout the museum’s various
revelation. However, whatever one may halls is noteworthy for its complete avoidance
think, these images do not lie, for most are of any sense of clutter, never too many at once,
remarkably spontaneous, although one also a tribute to the delicate hand of Samuel Gross
finds the typical poses from professional studio who mounted the exhibit.
photographers. Even the latter, however, are
noteworthy for the message that they convey, On the walls are projected photos selected by
all the more striking because of the highly the Swiss photographer Walter Pfeiffer, a well
conventional setting. known name in homo-erotic imagery. Their
exceptionally high resolution allowed them to
All are unsigned and anonymous (apart from be blown up to cover a major part of each wall.
attribution to a studio or a photo booth) One of them, from the Second World War in
and with no copyright. Yet they depict Europe, is of two soldiers of what was known
unmistakably a deep, intense affection if as the Rainbow Division. It is an accident of
not downright passionate love that Western history that their division carried a name that
conventional society rarely associates with has become inextricably entwined with the
2023.06.27 musée Rath – Loving “real men”. Coming from across the entire gay liberation movement.
world, the pictures demonstrate what literary
and art historians have long known: love Another is of two good looking young men,
between two men has always existed, and such dressed to the nines and holding in front of
The title, Loving, is broad (deliberately?). The they have the distinction of not having been
subtitle, “The Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell collected because of their artistic value relationships are ubiquitous throughout the them a panel on which is written, “Not married
Collection”, adds clarification that would (although such can indisputably be attributed history of the human species, however hidden but willing to be.” For decades, this was
enlighten few, if any, among the public, for the to many of them) but because of their historical from view. common among young available bachelors,
two collectors ares essentially unknown in the value. In short, they are historical documents, not without a good dose of whimsicality, and
art scene. testifying to generally unacknowledged The collection, now over 4,000 photos, began one might surmise that the two here depicted
human contacts and relationships, outside by accident with the purchase of a nineteen- were both in search of a wife. However, the
The collection is of photographs (often conventional society, discreetly running twenties photo discovered at an antique physical closeness of their position and the
neglected in the art world in comparison to through the course of history since time dealer’s shop in Dallas twenty-three years ago. look on their faces firmly suggest that each
paintings, sculptures, castings etc.). However, immemorial. During the presentation organized for media has already found a mate in the other and
representatives, the collectors explained that that the marital state they hanker after is one

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