Wilhelm von Gloeden (1856 - 1931)

Wilhelm von Gloeden

Baron Wilhelm Ivan Friederich August von Gloeden, commonly known as Baron von Gloeden, was a German photographer who lived and worked in Italy. One of the greatest masters of male nudity, a precursor of homosexual photography and a forerunner of performance art.

Wilhelm von Gloeden is mainly known for his pastoral photographs of nude Sicilian boys, which usually feature props such as wreaths or amphorae, suggestive of ancient Greece or Italy. From a contemporary perspective, his work is commendable for its controlled use of lighting, as well as the often elegant poses of his models. His innovations include the use of photofilters and special cosmetics (a mixture of milk, olive oil and glycerine) to mask skin imperfections.

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