Meet the Gay Horndog Artist of the Mid-20th Century

Anyone who thinks the early 20th century was devoid of big name homoerotic imagery has yet to discovery the electric illustrations of artist George Quaintance (1902-1957). It's the tale of a young artist who moved to the fancy world of New York City and made a name for himself creating works of blatant gay sexuality. His work may seem charmingly innocent in today's porn saturated world, but, oh boy, we can see how it would have tickled the loins of poor, repressed mid-century 'mos.

Quaintance is one of those fascinating figures we rarely hear about from the era: an openly gay man who relished in exploring his homosexual interests. He fulfilled every glamorous gay stereotype, making his living also as a dancer, stage designer, department store window decorator, make-up artist and hairdresser to the *s*t*a*r*s*! All he needed to have added was "Broadway chorus boy" and he'd have been crowned Queen of 20th Century Flamboyancy.

He made his name, however, with his startlingly sexual images of nude men in suggestive, romanticized poses: naked cowboys riding reared up horses, all-male greco-roman baths with wandering eyes, nude white men kneeling before scantily clad Indian chiefs. If only modern porn could get as creative instead of the perpetual Crate and Barrel bedrooms.

Despite being what the blog HerosNHunks.com quotes as "obviously and actively homosexual" (i.e. a raaaaaging queen), Quiantance did what men post-Stonewall did and in 1929 married his dance partner, a classically trained ballerina named Miriam Chester. Naturally, that barely lasted a year, since Miss Quaintance (meaning George) had a penchant for latino lovers. One, Puerto Rican Victor Garcia, captured his imagination and became Quaintance's "model, life partner and business associate." Awww, so sweet.

Next came the years as a "physique illustrator." After moving to the sunnier climes of Los Angeles, Quaintance became popular for his male illustrations, having even painted the cover for the premiere issue of AMG's now famous Physique Pictorial. He and Garcia moved to Phoenix by the the early 1950s, where he created his popular oil-on-canvas works. He died of a heart attack in 1957.

Although his highly homoerotic art never achieved mainstream success, his work is highly regarded in gay art circles. Original prints are rarely sold in auction, but sold privately for undisclosed sums. He obviously isn't a great artist. His illustrations come off as rudimentary and kitschy. For lovers of male erotica, however, their smooth naked butts and barely concealed cocks, their raw masculinity, and their covertly suggestive homosexuality styled from an era of repression make for delightful viewing, even over half a century later.

· The Homoerotic Art of… George Quaintance (heroesnhunks.com)
· The Art Of George Quaintance (queersupe.com)
· George Quaintance (1902 - 1957) (homoeroticmuseum.net)

Thongs were an important part of building the pyramids.
The Pharaoh becomes Queen.
Cowboys had no use for PJs.
White Man must hail Little Big Horn.
Skinny dip in paradise.
If only they still made bathhouses like this.
That's a mighty big horse between your legs.
Horse & Hung
The panther reaches for the prize.
Orgasm in Hell
We'll take that towel and finish him off.