Steve Masters (Mike Miksche) (American, 1925-1964)

Land's End, 1961. Silver gelatin print of an original illustration. Signed and dated in image, "Masters '61"; Titled on the bottom center, "Land's End"; Artist's stamp on the verso, "MASTERS ART". 7 1/8 x 5 1/8 in. (18 x 13 cm.) Notes: Mike Miksche, better known as "Steve Masters," lived a whirlwind life as a WW2 pilot, illustrator, model for the Marlboro Man campaign, illustrator for Sports Illustrated, sitter for George Platt Lynes (1907-1955) and focus of the early work of Alfred Kinsey of the Kinsey Institute. Beginning his career as a flight captain in the US Air Force Miksche later became an embedded part of New York's underground gay S&M scene throughout the 1950s and 60s, and would chronicle his experiences and fantasies through illustrations, while maintaining his career as a successful fashion illustrator. Miksche became a subject of research for Alfred Kinsey throughout the latter half of the 1950s. Miksche was filmed by Kinsey performing sadomasochistic sex acts which are now in the Kinsey Institutes archives. Miksche's career as an erotic artist began contemporaneously with Tom of Finland, both submitting their illustrations of muscle-clad, working class men to "Physique Pictorial" around the same time in the mid 1950s. Miksche's more angular, linear style, had an almost mannerist approach to anatomy and cloth, drawing from his trained hand as a fashion illustrator. He executed in a variety of styles under multiple pseudonyms (e.g. Steve Masters and Kurt), including work in cut paper, pulling from models from his memories of military service and pornographic magazines. Condition Some adhesive residue on the label, bottom center. For further condition details or additional images, please contact info@vallots.com

Estimate:$200

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