Alonzo Hanagan, Lon of New York, Original Vintage Photograph of Jack de Marco, circa 1950.
De Marco was a well-known physique model of the mid-20th century often photographed by Hanagan nude with posing straps added via airbrush or simply painted on for publication to comply with legal restrictions of the post war era. In this image the posing strap seems to be original to the photograph. de Marco was a popular fitness model in the late 1940s and 1950s as he possessed the heavily muscled, rugged look favored by East Coast photographers.
Alonzo James Hanagan (1911–1999), working under the pseudonym "Lon of New York," was a pioneering American physique photographer who helped shape the visual language of mid-century male portraiture. Initially trained as a musician—even serving as an organist at Radio City Music Hall—Hanagan pivoted to photography in the late 1930s under the mentorship of Robert Gebhort, who taught him classical masculine posing and dramatic studio lighting. While many West Coast contemporaries focused on fair-haired, sun-kissed California athletes, Lon carved out a distinct artistic niche by photographing rugged, heavily muscled, and ethnically diverse models, including Mediterranean, Latino, African American, and working-class men.
Operating during an era of intense social suppression, Hanagan frequently clashed with anti-obscenity laws enforced by local police and the U.S. Post Office. His studio was raided multiple times, resulting in his arrest and the deliberate destruction of countless pristine negatives and prints. To legally sell his work, he routinely painted mock "posing straps" directly onto the photo negatives to hide male nudity. Despite these legal battles, Hanagan continued shooting into the late 20th century. Today, art historians view his extensive catalog, showcased in publications like The Male Ideal, as a fundamental cornerstone of early gay culture and the evolution of the male gaze in fine art photography.
Lon is considered part of the group of pioneering photographers responsible for the proliferation of male-on-male gaze photography, what historian of homoerotica Thomas Waugh has called “one of the greatest achievements of gay culture.”
Photo is excellent quality, 8 x 10 inches, semi-matte Gelatin Silver on heavy paper with a white 1/4 inch boarder.
Originally from the collection of Broadway and Hollywood costume designer Noel Taylor. The photograph has been stored in a photographic folder with limited handling.