Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love 1850s–1950s features a fantastic selection of photographs depicting romantic love between men in different settings, landscapes and environments.

The book is published by 5 Continents and all pictures are part of the impressive Nini-Treadwell Collection amassed for more than twenty years.

While browsing in an antique store in Dallas, Texas, real-life couple Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell found a photograph from the 1920s of two men in a tender embrace. That unexpected discovery sparked a passion that has resulted in their still growing “accidental collection” of around 3,000 photographs of men in love. 

In similar ways as French screenwriter Sébastien Lifshitz’s collection or the Anonymous project, this spectacular archive traces unknown-authored pictures displaying signs of affection and feelings between men.

“Our collection spans a century of time between the 1850s and the 1950s and hits many notes in a rich chord. Thematically, it represents pure love. Photographically, it documents from nearly its beginning, the first one hundred years of photo taking […] The result is a romantic depiction of a special category of human beings, in all their diversity, that has been shown to be overwhelming for some, but certainly eye-opening for all.” They write in the introduction of this intriguing volume.

While these men couldn’t necessarily and openly express their feelings for fear of (often deadly) repercussions, these pictures restore their freedom.

Celebrating universality of love, these important book also highlights current societal questions around same-sex relationships, body language, and challenges ideas of masculinity.

What’s the story of all these men? Why is this couple featured in bed? Were they part of the same family or were they romantically involved? While an irrevocable sign reads “Not married but willing to be.” appears in one picture, another one showcases two army men holding hands. Was it staged or impromptu? No one knows.

“Sons, fathers, men: they are all human beings who seek and find each other in the deepest sentiments of affection, often tinged with love and branded with passion.” writes Paolo Maria Noseda in the great introduction.

Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love 1850s–1950s is both a beautiful testimony of the evolution of photograph and a powerful historical collection honouring love and passion.

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Images: cover and picture courtesy of the Nini-Treadwell Collection.