Queer Lens, An History of Photography by Paul Martineau, Ryan Linkof
- Crafty Goblin
- Apr 7
- 2 min read
Queer Lens, An History of Photography
Author : Paul Martineau, Ryan Linkof
Publisher : J. Paul Getty Museum
Released : 24 june 2025
Page count : 342
Format : E-Arc
Genre : Photography, Art, Activism
Content warnings : /
Source : Netgalley & J. Paul Getty Museum
Representation : 2SLGBTQIA+
Part of a Series : Not a series but linked to the IRL exposition of the same name
★★★★★— Awesome book !
Synopsis :
Copiously illustrated, Queer Lens explores the transformative role of photography in LGBTQ+ communities from the nineteenth century to the present day.
Photography’s power to capture a subject—representing reality, or a close approximation—has inherently been linked with the construction and practice of identity. Since the camera’s invention in 1839, and despite periods of severe homophobia, the photographic art form has been used by and for individuals belonging to dynamic LGBTQ+ communities, helping shape and affirm queer culture and identity across its many intersections.
Queer Lens explores this transformative force of photography, which has played a pivotal role in increasing queer visibility. Lively essays by scholars and artists explore myriad manifestations of queer culture, both celebrating complex interpretations of people and relationships and resisting rigid definitions. Featuring a rich selection of images—including portraits of queer individuals, visual records of queer kinship, and documentary photographs of early queer groups and protests—this volume investigates the medium’s profound role in illuminating the vibrant tapestry of LGBTQ+ communities.
This volume is published to accompany an exhibition on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center from June 17 to September 28, 2025.
My Thoughts about this Book :
I start by giving my thanks for this book to Netgalley and Getty Publishing.
This book is a copious work edited by Paul Martineau and Ryan Linkof, exploring the transformative role of photography in LGBTQIA+ communities from the 19th century to the present day.
This book is awesome. Beautifully created work and well crafted and referenced.
It's one of the rare photography books focusing on queer visions and promoting the work and history of so much of the talentuous and grandiose queer photographers paving our history.
The essays coming with the collection of photographies are top notch. Greatly detailed and interesting. A good way to partner with the photographies to show more of what queer history is made of and how much repressed but loud we are.
I found some of my favorite photographers along those pages and I was happy to discover new artists and new pieces.
The quality of this book is stunning.
It is definitely one of the "beautiful book" I'll add on my shelves.
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