Touko Laaksonen , the boy who would become Tom of Finland (1920–1991), began drawing cartoons at the age of five. His favorite subjects were the rugged, virile men of his native Finland, as Touko knew from a young age that he was more interested in men than in women. His talent was honed by studying art in Helsinki. He found success in the Finnish advertising industry, but continued to secretly create his increasingly erotic drawings of hypermasculine men. In 1957, he sent some to the American magazine Physique Pictorial , and the legend “Tom of Finland” was born. By the late 1960s, Tom’s “dirty drawings” had become the standard of gay art, and Tom’s men became models of a new homosexual masculinity. Tom’s art continues to play an important role in promoting self-confidence, a positive image, and open-mindedness in the gay community.

About the editor and author

Dian Hanson produced several men's magazines between 1976 and 2001, including Juggs, Outlaw Biker , and Leg Show, before becoming editor of TASCHEN's Sexy Books collection. Her titles include the body parts series, The Art of Pin-up, Masterpieces of Fantasy Art, and Ren Hang.