Book Launch: An Imaginary Sketchbook from Tom of Finland | Galerie Judin

Tom of Finland is undoubtedly one of the great and truly influential artists of the late 20th century. Through his iconic images, he almost single-handedly changed the way gay men were perceived by society and, perhaps more importantly, how gay men perceived themselves.

Image above: Courtesy Galerie Judin

The extensive body of work he created over a career spanning almost six decades is almost exclusively devoted to this one subject: men, their bodies and their minds. This extraordinary consistency in subject matter was matched by a lifelong passion for the supreme discipline of freehand drawing. All he needed to create a universe of stunningly beautiful men was a pencil and a sheet of paper. And he probably drew every day of his life. Drawing, it seems, was an exercise for his restless imagination and desire. Tom’s world was populated by cowboys, mechanics, policemen, punks and thugs – all indulging their desires with great camaraderie and without guilt or prejudice. This book brings together a cross-section of these figures as the artist imagined them in rough sketches or carefully executed studies. Mostly they served as preliminary sketches for the completed works, many of which were intended for publication. The playful format of an imaginary sketchbook allows the viewer an intimate look over the artist’s shoulder, sharing in his exuberant ” joie de vivre “.

Book info

<div><br class=”Apple-interchange-newline”>Edited by Jürg Judin and Pay Matthis Karstens Text by Jürg Judin and Pay Matthis Karstens In English 293 × 240 mm 126 pages, hardcover 69 colour illustrations</div>

Edited by Jürg Judin and Pay Matthis Karstens

WHERE?
Galerie Judin
Potsdamer Straße 83 (Hof) 
10785 Berlin – Schöneberg