Touko Laaksonen, the boy who was to become Tom of Finland (1920-1991) began drawing caricatures at the age of five. Her favorite subjects were the rugged, virile men of her native Finland, as Touko knew from a young age that she was more interested in men than women. Her talent was honed through art studies in Helsinki. She found success in the Finnish advertising industry, but secretly continued creating her increasingly erotic drawings of hypermasculine men. In 1957, she sent some to an American magazine. Pictorial Physics And the legend was bornTom of FinlandBy the late 1960s, Tom's "dirty drawings" had become the standard for gay art, and Tom's men had become 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 within the gay community.

About the editor and author

Dian Hanson He produced several men's magazines between 1976 and 2001, such as Juggs, Outlaw Biker and Leg Show, before becoming editor of TASCHEN's Sexy Books collection. Among her titles is the series dedicated to body parts, The Art of Pin-up, Masterpieces of Fantasy Art and Ren Hang.