Who is George Platt Lynes you may ask? Well you wouldn’t be alone. The photographer celebrated the sensual power of the male physique before the likes of Bruce Weber and Herb Ritt. While he didn’t receive the appreciation he deserved for his work at the time, Lynes is finally starting to be recognised and new documentary ‘Hidden Master: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes’ is shining a light on the ground-breaking work he created.
Directed by Sam Shaid, ‘Hidden Master’ tells the story of Lynes, unearthing plenty of stories that have never been publicly told before. Celebrating the life of one of the first openly gay American artists, the documentary features contributions from those who knew him and it paints a picture of a man who was his own worst critic. Living in Paris in the 20s, Lynes relocated to New York City for a large part of his life and it was there he was inspired. The contributors talk about Lynes ability to talk any man out of his clothes for a photoshoot, and we hear from one of his subjects who stripped down despite protesting that he definitely wouldn’t partake.
Through the documentary we’re introduced to a man who wasn’t afraid of his sexuality, or letting others know about it, and by all accounts he lived a very modern life back in the times when it wouldn’t have been accepted. Flitting between lovers – he was involved with both writer Glenway Wescott and curator Monroe Wheeler – Lynes kept himself in popular company, which makes it all the more remarkable that his name isn’t more widely known. From the stories shared, it’s clear that Lynes had the gift of the gab and he did manage to get his work published in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, but that was of celebrities at the time rather than his nudes.
If you’ve never seen Lynes work before then you get a good look at it here. His work has been held by private collectors for a long time, and he destroyed a lot of his photos before his death, but this documentary manages to share a good amount of it. The nudes are tastefully shot in black-and-white, with men in various states of undress – some solo, some with other men. It’s obvious that his work inspired the photographers that came after him and it’s easy to see why it would have been controversial at the time.
‘Hidden Master’ may be a little too niche for general audiences but if the male form is something you’re interested in, especially from an artistic perspective, you’ll enjoy this documentary. Lynes’ story is certainly a fascinating one and it’s a real shame that he was never truly appreciated in his time. If you have any interest in the likes of Bruce Weber and Herb Ritt, then you should check this documentary out!
Director: Sam Shahid Certificate: 15 Duration: 96 mins Released by: Peccadillo Pictures Release date: 11th July (cinemas) August (digital)
