Tom of Finland and Peter Berlin: Two Gay Icons of the Twentieth Century
In an astonishing move for a country that had yet to legalise gay marriage, Finland took the decision to publish in September 2014 a set of three stamps honouring Touko Laaksonen, otherwise known as Tom of Finland, who was born on 8th May 1920 and died on 7th November 1991. The stamps were a daring but fitting move to honour one of the last century's gay porn iconic figures, whose work shed its influence far and wide. This was noted in regard to Robert Mapplethorpe, Freddie Mercury and the Village People, the latter two being obvious examples in the world of pop music. Naturally a good dose of Tom of Finland can also be found in productions in the gay porn world, and his drawings can often be found gracing the walls behind actors who are fucking each other, sometimes wearing the black leather chaps so liked by Tom. To extend this celebration of Tom of Finland beyond the three stamps above, I have copied below some of my favourite drawings from his output. This was extraordinary work in its time, initially being circulated illegally in many countries where viewing such material was against the law. Fortunately we live in more enlightened times, although there are plenty of people out there who would prefer it to be otherwise! Muscular men clad in tightly fitting leather jeans, showing impressively dimensioned bulges are the standard fare for Tom of Finland fans. Often in Tom's work the connection with biking is made explicit, and it often goes hand in hand with BDSM! Tom referred to his more explicit erotic art as his "dirty drawings", typified in men with muscular arms, broad shoulders, narrow hips and skin-tight jeans with an impressively large tumescence in the crotch area - all trademarks of Tom's studly men! Humour was also a prominent feature of Tom's work and in much of Tom's work gay men are seen in settings which we probably wouldn't find in real life even today. We see glorious men, for example, relaxed, chatting comfortably in a sauna; or a tailor measuring up a hunky man who just happens to have stripped naked with other men dotted around in various states of undress! In 1956 one of his drawings appeared on the cover of Physique Pictorial and it created a sensation in America, and was probably the most significant event to spread Tom's fame on that continent. And for the last four works by Tom of Finland posted below, I've chosen those where one of his models was Armin Hagen Freiherr von Hoyningen-Huene, better known as Peter Berlin. See more of Peter after the Tom of Finland pics!!
Peter Berlin was born in 1942 and ended up living in San Francisco, and he believed in the prime of his manhood that he had a beautiful body (he wasn't wrong!), and he wanted to show it off to the world. He designed and made his own clothing to this end, and while much of it would have been regarded as outrageous, he wasn't afraid to wear it in public. We see him below in the titles sequence of his film Nights in Black Leather strutting his stuff down Polk Street in San Francisco, wearing his trademark black leather jeans with a heavily studded fly which could almost be a codpiece, especially when filled out the way Peter's equipment fills it. Most people in the street pass by without a backward glance, even though Peter looks incredibly sexy, striding out in his skin-tight leather jeans. Many of his outfits were so tight that bending at the hips and knees wasn't always easy! He had no trouble walking, though!! During the titles sequence we are also given a slow traversal of a black-and-white still of the gorgeous man! After the titles sequence we see more of Peter striding out in different outfits with his equipment beautifully displayed by the style of the jeans. Cut to Peter reclining in the park, still wearing his sexy black boots, but now clad in white. His bell-bottom jeans, all the rage at the time, are again moulded to his body on his thighs and hips! He is writing an account for friends and family of his time in San Francisco. His sexy German accent narrates his encounter in the San Franciscan night life scene with leather-clad bikers, something which influenced him and turned him on. He tells us how he handed out his number to some of them, and then, that evening, settling down to listen to some Debussy and watch TV (both at the same time!), he gets a call. The leather clinging to his thighs is incredibly hot as he gives us a catwalk display of his outfit, striding about his room. He is about to light a cigarette, but the matches are a problem! His personally designed and made jeans have a secret compartment for just such items! No sooner has he settled down than he gets a call from an admirer who has been watching him as he goes around the city. Peter's number had been given to him by one of his friends! The talk gets dirty, and Peter decides to jerk off while he listens. Before he goes for orgasm, Peter undoes his studded black leather belt and then shoots a fine load, seen in slow motion: seven good and powerful shots fired off with considerable force! The powerful ejaculation is followed by several less intense shots as the orgasm runs its course. Before hanging up, Peter thanks his caller! In the park, Peter recalls, "That was a pleasant diversion for a restless night!" As well as designing and making clothes, Peter worked as a photographer and artist. Male homosexual eroticism was a constant theme in his work. Now in his 70s, I hope he looks back on his life with satisfaction and joy. And from me and all your many fans, thank you, Peter, for giving us your body the way you did. Your work was novel, inspirational, and way ahead of its time!!
To start off my celebration of Peter, here is a short clip of him strutting his stuff in his movie, Nights in Black Leather !!
Screencaps from the movie follow, and then right at the end of this post there are some other pics of this stunningly beautiful man!
Amazingly gifted men and Peter's bulge is HUGE!!
ReplyDelete