{"product_id":"tom-of-finland-the-official-life-and-work-of-a-gay-hero-9782374951331","title":"Tom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero","description":"\u003cb\u003eAuthor and illustrator F. Valentine Hooven III presents the official biography of the renowned homosexual artist, \u003ci\u003eTom of Finland\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Long iconic and even formative for American gay society, Tom's well-endowed and sexually charged imagery is now hitting the global mainstream.\" --NBC News\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e With a foreword by Jean Paul Gaultier, an extensive history, and provocative photos and illustrations, this illustrated biography brings to life the story of the icon whose erotic depictions of men influenced gay culture, pop culture, and many prominent artists, including Robert Mapplethorpe and Bruce Weber. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The text was completed just a few months before the death of the artist and he was interviewed at length for it--making this book the only fully approved biography of the legend responsible for creating the muscled, mustachioed gay archetype of the 1960s and '70s. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Tom of Finland (born Tuoko Laaksonen, 1920-1991) was an iconic and ground-breaking artist who rose to cult status in the international queer community and then beyond for his work celebrating the male figure and masculinity during a time when being homosexual was still taboo. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Avant-garde, provocative, sexual, subversive, and rebellious, Tom of Finland stamped history with his recognizable artistic style. A virtuoso of drawing, he fashioned the silhouette of a new Gay Man--strong, confident, joyful, and assertive--fully participating in the visibility and recognition of the nascent gay rights movement. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Created in partnership with Tom of Finland Foundation, \u003ci\u003eTom of Finland: The Official Life and Work of a Gay Hero\u003c\/i\u003e includes text authorized by the artist himself a few months before his death. This unique illustrated biography reveals a life of art, pleasure, and liberation using never, or rarely seen, materials from his archive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePhiladelphia native \u003cb\u003eF. Valentine Hooven III\u003c\/b\u003e is a freelance writer and illustrator who lives in Palm Springs. In the years leading up to Tom of Finland's death, Hooven wrote Tom's biography, tracing the evolution and impact of his art on the world.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Cernunnos","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51183633334546,"sku":"9782374951331","price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_15ec1872-5ecd-4070-bd79-7e8dd6d2d7c2.jpg?v=1744473589","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/tom-of-finland-the-official-life-and-work-of-a-gay-hero-9782374951331","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}