The distinctive pencil artwork by the artist known only as ‘Joseph’ will be familiar to many who spend time on the gay online scene, especially for Americans who have seen his work in Handjobs magazine. The only clues we have about the artist’s identity is that he describes himself as ‘a self-taught artist who obviously loves the male nude’, and that he is, or was for a time, based in Madison, Wisconsin.

From 2013 to 2020 Joseph had a Tumblr account where he regularly posted new drawings, also a website at maleartbyjoseph, but both are now defunct. And even Handjobs ceased publication in October 2014, though there is a complete archive and online store for back issues, digital versions, and Handjob’s more recent offerings here.

We would like to thank our Russian friend Yuri for suggesting the inclusion of this artist.

Similar artists

Neel Bate – American mid-century illustrator of homoerotic subjects.
Harry Bush – British illustrator of idealised muscular gay male figures.
Ed Cervone – American postwar gay illustrator of muscular idealised men.
Peter Flinsch – German-Canadian illustrator of mid-century homoerotic subjects.
Duncan Grant – British Bloomsbury painter of male homoerotic subjects.
Keith Vaughan – British postwar painter of the male naked body and mythological subjects.