Gary Cooper is on the left, but who’s that guy on the right?
Certain images in the Esquire spread definitely had a classic Hollywood vibe for me (others too!). I posted this on Tumblr last night, so apologies for shamelessly cross platform re blogging myself, but I don’t know how to show it to non-Tumblrs any other way. (Instruction always welcome!)
Ancient Armitage 
That’s the one of the set that spoke most viscerally to me. Even beyond being timeless and classic, there’s just something about him there that intrigues and entices.
I think part of it is the b/w image…so much is hidden from view. Yeah, I really like the kind of film noir mystique tone.
Reblogged this on crystalchandlyre and commented:
This is fantastic. I just love it.
(Comments to Ancient Armitage, please)
[…] Reblogged from Ancient Armitage: […]
[…] and “le smoking.” I couldn’t help musing that if Armitage were going to play classic Hollywood or classic Bond, he couldn’t avoid certain things. And then I saw […]
Two indubitably Beautiful Men! Thanks for the great post.
I thought so! Welcome, and thanks for commenting 🙂
He really does have the timeless manly good looks of the old stars. So unlike some of the pretty boys around today…
I suppose it’s a matter of taste, but considering that Gary Cooper died years before I was born and I think he’s gorgeous, timeless is a good description 🙂
This is the picture in which I think his face comes closest to what the model is really thinking … (snark snark snark)
Seems to be a common enough occurence in these “leading man” shots. Cooper doesn’t look particularly into the process either.
My perception seems to change depending on my mood. This morning it read as pensive or wistful. This afternoon it reads like, “Are we done here?”
I think one paradox involved in this genre of pictures is that while the suit is incredibly elegant and draws the eye and wakes the desire, at the same time, if the model isn’t wearing it with a sort of casual vibe, it doesn’t come off. You have to look like a million bucks *and* not care that you do. That’s hard to pull off — I think it culminates in pictures like this one that can be interpreted in multiple ways — casualness, irritation, fatigue, ennui … it’s part of the trope, lol.
It was between this picture and the profile one that I had to decide early this morning. It is really cool and has much more scope for interpretation, I think. The b/w adds a cool factor to the whole image. However, it’s not quite as Hollywood Glamour as the Gary Cooper image. I think I may have to look at this closely *ggg*
Thanks for finding that matching Cooper image, Obscura – it’s an interesting comparison.
Yeah, uh evidently I have a bit of a thing for tall, dark haired, light eyed leading men. I saw the Esquire pic and thought immediately of the Cooper shot. You’re right though…purely from a compositional standpoint (in my inexpert eye!), the Esquire pic is a lot “busier” in terms of the details of the background scenery. Only one thing to look at in the other shot…the leading man. 🙂
Artsy fartsy…is that the technical term? *snicker*
Straight from Barthes’ mouth 😉
Of course! 😀
Blasé beauties 😉
😀