Loving is a moving and meticulously curated volume by Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell, in which they bring to light a previously hidden century-long archive of intimate male love. As a journalist, I often seek narratives that challenge the mainstream, and this collection does precisely that by giving voice to emotions long suppressed by societal constraints and legal prohibitions.
The book’s strength lies in its provenance. Found in flea markets, family albums, coded inscriptions and minute gestures – like a hand lightly resting on another – these images resonate with authenticity. Spanning a diverse geographic canvas from Australia to Japan, Russia to the UK, Loving signals a universal longing for love across cultures and eras.
Produced to museum-quality standards, the photographs are digitised with satellite-derived technology and printed on premium materials. The tactile quality of ambrotypes, cabinet cards and snapshots is preserved with such care that the images feel alive, and each page turn becomes a discovery.
What elevates Loving beyond a historical compendium is its lyrical narrative arc. The editors avoid didactic commentary, instead letting the visual language speak. The book respects silence and stillness – the quiet defiance of affection under scrutiny. This is social history retold through visual intimacy, conveyed not by scholars, but by lovers themselves.
In sum, Loving is a landmark publication: socially significant, technically superb, and emotionally profound. For anyone interested in photography, LGBTQ+ history, or the undercurrents of human connection, this book is not just recommended – it’s essential.
Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s–1950s, by Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell
Published by 5 Continents Editions
Distributed by ACC Art Books
Author: Julia Pasarón
Loving II, the highly anticipated sequel to Loving, is scheduled to be published this autumn. Stay tuned.
If you are interested in queer history and culture, you’ll enjoy City in a Garden: Queer Art and Activism in Chicago.
Leading image: Photograph from 1948. Provenance: US Note: “Sept NEVR FADE 1948” (stamp on back).
Image in body text: Photographs undated. Provenance: US.
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