Check out this beautiful slide show about Justin Spring’s new biography of Samuel Steward. Steward was an English professor, writer, and tattoo artist who left behind detailed documentation of gay male life in the mid 20th century. His documents included photos, drawings, letters, a card catalog of over 700 sexual partners, a thousand page journal left for Alfred Kinsey, and pubic hair. I expect this biography will also shed light on the artistic community of the time and Steward’s difficulties as an openly gay artist during a very conformist time period.
“‘He paid the price for being himself,’ Mr. Spring said, “but at least he got to be himself.’”
I’m definitely looking forward to picking up a copy of Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade when it comes out.
