Artists - Part 96

Paul Cadmus

Paul Cadmus (1904-1999) was an American artist.  He became part of the photographic collective PaJaMa, which stood for Paul, Jared, Margaret.  Jared French was Paul's lover, and Margaret French was Jared's wife, who was apparently OK with the arrangement.

Above, a 1935 photo taken by Jared French showing (front to back) Paul Cadmus, Bernard Perlin (a friend), and Margaret French.

Almost all photos of Paul Cadmus are rear views, but this photo by George Platt Lynes of Cadmus in a torn T-shirt shows a rare frontal view.

But it's Cadmus' art that we're interested in.  This 1935 painting called YMCA Locker Room was published in the March 29, 1937 issue of LIFE magazine in an article on Cadmus' art.  LIFE would publish rear nudity, but not frontal nudity.

Gilding the Acrobats, published in the same 1937 issue of LIFE.

The Shower, 1943, depicts the PaJaMa trio: Margaret French, Jared French (seated) and Paul Cadmus (in the shower).

The Bath, 1951.  Cadmus painted and drew many male nudes, more than I can show here, using many different models. The models for The Bath were Jack Fontan and Jensen Yow.

The Nap, 1952.

Male Nude, 1955, model Ted Starkowski.

Male Nude, 1965.

We end with Sleeping Beauty, which dates from the 1950s.