Artist Index: Gloeden, Wilhelm von

Young boy with headband. 1890s. Albumen print, mounted to board. 22,5 x 16.2 cm (mount 35,5 x 28 cm).

Wilhelm von Gloeden is best known for his idealized photographs of nude Sicilian youths, staged in classical poses and settings around Taormina. Drawing on Greco-Roman aesthetics and pastoral themes, his work blends homoeroticism, ethnographic curiosity, and pictorial elegance, contributing to early discourses on photography as both fine art and social document. – Minimal stain in chest area, otherwise in excellent condition.

Lit.: Italo Zannier. Wilhelm von Gloeden Fotografie: Nudi, Paesaggi, Scene di Genere. Florence: Alinari, 2008. ill. p. 133 (images from same sitting).

Elegie. Circa 1900. Large-format photogravure on strong vellum paper, mounted to board. 26 x 32,7 cm (mount 33,3 x 38,5 cm). Signed by the photographer in pencil and title printed in the lower margin.

This atmospheric work Elegie by Wilhelm von Gloeden was taken during the same period as Cain, one of von Gloeden’s most iconic and widely reproduced works. Here the photographer also employs a sitter in a contemplative pose with allegorical weight. Blending classical references with fin-de-siècle symbolism, the image exemplifies the photographer’s refined use of natural light, idealized male form, and mythic undertones that helped shape his enduring legacy in art photography. – Board time-stained, a few minimal spots and rubbed areas in upper right of print, otherwise a fine tonal print in very good condition.

Lit.: Volker Janssen (ed.). Wilhelm von Gloeden, Wilhelm von Plüschow, Vincenzo Galdi: Italienische Jünglings-Photographien um 1900. Berlin: Janssen, 1991, ill. p. 32.
Italo Zannier (ed.), Wilhelm von Gloeden, Fotografie: Nudi. Paesaggi. Scene di Genere, Florence: Alinari, 2008, ill. p. 78.

Youth with headband. 1890s. Albumen print. 23 x 17,2 cm. Numbered “191” and annotated “Taormina” in pencil on the verso, as well as a partially visible copyright stamp.

Some handling creases; some fading along the edges of the print, otherwise in very good condition.

Young boy in toga with headband. 1890s. 2 albumen prints. Each ca. 23 x 16,8 cm. Photographer's "Taormina Sicilia" studio stamp and/or annotated in pencil on the verso.

Corners of one print with pinholes from previous mounting; some light handling marks and scuff marks, as well as some fading along the edges of the prints, otherwise in very good condition.

Young boy leaning on tree branch. 1900. Albumen print, mounted to board. 23 x 16,5 cm (mount 35,4 x 28 cm).

Lower left corner missing, A few light surface crimps/indentations, otherwise in very good condition.

Lit.: Italo Zannier. Wilhelm von Gloeden Fotografie: Nudi, Paesaggi, Scene di Genere. Florence: Alinari, 2008. ill. p. 114 (variant).

Sicilian children with dog. 1904. Albumen print. 22,4 x 17 cm. Photographer's "V. Von Gloeden / Taormina-Italia-Sicilia / Proprietà Artistica dell’Autore” studio stamp, therein dated “25 FEB 1904” in purple ink and handwritten inventory number “2145” in blue crayon on the verso.

An unusually intimate and psychologically nuanced portrait from von Gloeden’s lesser-known work in Taormina. While he is best remembered for his idealized male nudes referencing antiquity, this image reveals a more grounded, genre-oriented facet of his practice - one shaped by the ethnographic gaze, yet resisting its detachment. The naturalism of the children’s pose, their direct engagement with the camera, and the subtly staged setting speak to von Gloeden’s ability to merge local character with a distinctly pictorial sensibility. Works of this kind enrich our understanding of his broader project: not only to mythologize, but also to preserve the human texture of rural Sicilian life at the turn of the century. Another version of this print is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. – Minimal fading in left and lower edge, backed tear (ca 3,5 cm) in left edge, a few light foxing spots, otherwise in very good condition with strong tonal range and crisp detail.

Lit.: Ulrich Pohlmann. Wilhelm von Gloeden: Sehnsucht nach Arkadien. Berlin: Nishen, 1987, ill. p. 94.

Cain. Circa 1900. Large-format photogravure on strong vellum paper, mounted to board. 31,5 x 23,8 cm (49 x 35,7 cm). Signed by the photographer in pencil in the lower left margin below the image; title printed in the margin below the image.

One of von Gloeden’s most iconic and widely reproduced works, Cain stands out for its contemplative pose and allegorical weight. Blending classical references with fin-de-siècle symbolism, the image exemplifies the photographer’s refined use of natural light, idealized male form, and mythic undertones that helped shape his enduring legacy in art photography. – Board time-stained and soiled; some toning and light stains in margins; some discoloration spots; a few small white spots from insect damage in upper area; otherwise a beautiful print in very good condition.

Lit.: Ulrich Pohlmann. Wilhelm von Gloeden: Sehnsucht nach Arkadien. Berlin: Nishen, 1987, ill. p. 37.

Portrait of a boy. 1890s. Albumen print. 22,5 x 16,8 cm. Numbered "2071" in blue crayon and photographer's "Taormina-Sicilia" studio stamp on the verso.

Some light handling creases and minimal fading along edges of print, otherwise in very good condition.

Lit.: Italo Zannier. Wilhelm von Gloeden. Fotografie Nudi, Paesaggi, Scene di genere. Florence 2008, ill. p. 129 (variant).

Young faun. 1890s. Salted paper print. 26,5 x 20,2 cm. Numbered "1741" in blue crayon and photographer's "Taormina-Italia-Sicilia" studio stamp on the verso.

Wilhelm von Gloeden was a German photographer known for his idealized images depicting male nudes, often set in the natural landscape of Taormina, Sicily. His work, which evoked themes of classical antiquity, became famous for its aesthetic beauty and subtle homoeroticism, gaining recognition among art collectors in Europe. While controversial at the time for its subject matter, von Gloeden’s photography has since been recognized as pioneering in the fields of both art photography and the male nude genre. – Some light irregularities in negative and minimal foxing, otherwise a strong print in very good condition.

"Cain". Circa 1900. Large-format photogravure on strong vellum, lightly hand-colored in lower area. 31,5 x 23,8 cm (49 x 35,7 cm). Signed and dated Taormina 6/9 1926 by the photographer in pencil below image in lower left in margin and title printed below the image in margin.

This image is undoubtedly one of von Gloeden's most published and popular images. – Some backed tears/nicks, toning and some stains in edges, a few small scratches in upper area, light water stain in lower left, otherwise a beautiful print in very good condition.

Lit.: Ulrich Pohlmann. Wilhelm von Gloeden - Sehnsucht nach Arkadien. Berlin 1987, ill. p. 37.

Youth with head band. 1890s. Albumen print flush-mounted to board. 23 x 16,7 cm.

A few minimal scuff marks, otherwise a strong print in very good condition.

Lit.: Wilhelm von Gloeden, Fotografie ritrovate dell' Instituto Statale d'Arte di Firenze 1899-1902. Florence 2000, p. 89. compare ill. 37 (variant).
Wilhelm von Gloeden. Fotografie Nudi, Paesaggi, Scene di genere. Florence 2008, ill. p. 133 (variant).

Male nude on cliffs. Circa 1913. Vintage large-format, sepia-toned salt print. 39,5 x 28,5 cm. Photographer's stamp on the verso.

Slightly faded in edges, some traces of silver fish in corners/edges, some creases in lower left corner and along right edge, otherwise a strong print in very good condition.

Lit.: Ulrich Pohlmann/Rudolf Scheutle (eds.). Nude Visions. 150 Jahre Körperbilder in der Fotografie. Heidelberg 2009, ill. p. 43.

Youth in toga with ivy head wreath. 1890s. Albumen print. 16 x 11,4 cm. Photographer's Napoli stamp on the verso.

Light handling marks, edges slightly curled, otherwise a strong print in very good condition.

Group of nude youths in front of Arcadian landscape. Circa 1890. Vintage large-format salt print. 38 x 27 cm. Photographer's stamp, 1898 and number 30 in pencil on the verso. Framed under glass in gilt wooden frame, 66 x 46 cm.

Some handling marks, 2 small backed tears in upper right, otherwise a fine print in very good condition.

Two male nudes against wall. Circa 1900/printed 1910s/20s. Gelatin silver print. 23,2 x 17 cm. Photographer's stamp and number 737 in pencil on the verso.

Minimal silver mirroring in lower edge, a few light handling marks in lower portion, some retouching, otherwise in very good condition.