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© Bill Travis, Couple, photo transfer on mother of pearl in a 19th-century half case, ca. 3 ¾ x 3 ⅛ in., 2021. Click on picture for purchase information.
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There was a time, not long ago, when you wouldn’t be taken seriously if you wanted to photograph a male nude, let alone exhibit such work in a legitimate gallery. When the first show devoted to the subject opened in the 1970s, a critic at The New York Times couldn’t make sense of it. Why photograph men? They’re ugly.
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© Bill Travis, Couple, photo transfer on 23k gold in a 19th-century half case, ca. 3 ¾ x 3 ⅛ in., 2021. Click on picture for purchase information.
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Not everybody agreed, of course, but that was a dangerous opinion. You could lose your job if you acted on it.
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© Bill Travis, Couple, photo transfer on 23k gold in a 19th-century union case, ca. 4 x 7 in. (open case), 2021. Click on picture for purchase information.
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Now that, decades later, the floodgates have opened, there’s still something about showing two men together that makes people uncomfortable. If the men are unhappy, that’s fine, but if they’re enjoying it, people lower their voices. Or they focus on the act and forget the art.
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© Bill Travis, Couple, photo transfer on mother of pearl in a 19th-century half case, ca. 3 ¾ x 3 ⅛ in., 2021. Click on picture for purchase information.
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I’ve been exploring male couples for years. I don’t need to disguise them as gods or heroes. It is enough to bring out the poetry.
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© Bill Travis, Couple, photo transfer on 23k gold in a 19th-century half case, ca. 3 ¾ x 3 ⅛ in., 2021. Click on picture for purchase information.
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This is the sixth newsletter on my union case series. I’m happy to say that many of these cases are now sold. Thank you, everybody, for making this possible! Let me know if you want me to cover something in a future newsletter.
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In closing…These and other pieces are available for purchase here. Or just click on the picture you’re interested in. The purchase info will come up.Want to catch up on past newsletters? Check out the archive!Please encourage your friends to visit my website and sign up for my newsletter, which is free and comes out once a month.
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