Photographic art capturing BDSM and fetish aesthetics
Henri Oltramare (1878–1953) was a renowned photographer from Geneva, celebrated for his artistic nudes during the Belle Époque. His work, characterized by exquisite printing and dramatic lighting, balanced art and taboo. Recently, previously unknown Orientalist prints have emerged, enhancing his legacy and importance in early fetish photography. Continue reading Hentri Oltramare
Lucette Desmoulins, a prominent figure in 1930s Paris, transitioned from humble origins to become a celebrated actress and model known for her roles in film and theater. Engaging with the risqué work of Biederer Studio, she balanced glamour and desire, leaving a legacy of elegance that continues to inspire discussions about her artistry and influence. Continue reading Lucette, the Enigmatic Muse
Carlo Mollino, a 20th-century Italian architect, produced a remarkable collection of private Polaroids depicting women in luxurious settings, expressing both elegance and submission. His work blends Surrealism and contemporary kink, capturing a nuanced power exchange. Celebrated posthumously, Mollino’s art reveals deeper themes of intimacy and eroticism, remaining influential today. Continue reading Carlo Mollino: Architect of Secret Desires
William Mortensen (1897–1965) was the bad boy of 1920s–1930s photography: theatrical, grotesque, openly sadomasochistic tableaux while the rest of the world preached “pure” straight photography. Hated by Ansel Adams, got erased from history, yet his dark, perfectly-lit bondage and occult images secretly fathered modern fetish and horror aesthetics. Continue reading William Mortensen
Eugène Réunier, a pseudonym for German artist Carl Breuer-Courth, significantly influenced early 20th-century erotic art. His 1925 portfolio, Autour de l’Amour, depicted themes of dominance and submission, pioneering visual narratives for the kink community. Réunier’s legacy intertwines with the dismantling of Victorian taboos, preserving crucial aspects of BDSM history. Continue reading Carl Breuer-Courth
Margaretha Zelle, born in 1876 in Leeuwarden, escaped an abusive marriage by reinventing herself as Mata Hari, Paris’s most celebrated exotic dancer and courtesan. In 1917 France, desperate for a scapegoat, executed her as a German spy on flimsy evidence. Survivor, performer, myth: the original femme fatale was simply a woman trying to live.
Continue reading Mata Hari: The Myth, the Dancer, the Scapegoat
Charles Gates Sheldon (1888–1960) didn’t set out to be a fetishist. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, he trained at the Art Students League in New York under luminaries like George Bridgman. By 1916 he was already the go-to illustrator for The Ladies’ Home Journal, turning out soft-focus cover girls in pastel and charcoal that made every reader believe beauty was just one sigh away.But Sheldon wasn’t … Continue reading Charles Gates Sheldon
Rudolf Franz Lehnert (1878–1948) was a photographer known for his romanticized portrayals of North African women. He co-founded Lehnert & Landrock, a studio that thrived on artistic postcard production. Critics label his work as ethnocentric. Lehnert’s legacy endures through surviving glass plates, valued by collectors and historians alike. Continue reading Rudolf Franz Lehnert
Charles Guyette (c. 1900–1976) was a pioneering theatrical costumer who transformed his New York shop into America’s first full-line fetish supplier by the mid-1930s. Notably, he offered handmade fetish items and imported European designs. After a prison sentence for obscenity, he shifted focus but inspired key figures in American kink culture. Continue reading Charles Guyette
Brassaï (1899–1984), originally Gyula Halász, was a prominent photographer known for his haunting nighttime Paris images. During the 1930s, he created exclusive photographs for Diana Slip Company, capturing elegant, erotic poses in luxurious lingerie. His work significantly contributed to the fine art status of vintage fetish photography. Continue reading Diana Slip – Brassaï
