xy | Spencer Museum of Art

Exhibition

Kris Ercums, curator

June 27, 2009–October 5, 2009

Kress Gallery, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Male sexuality is determinate by the x and y chromosome, yet what does it mean to be a man? This exhibition delves into the complexities of male identity and masculinity across a range of historical, cultural and temporal trajectories. xy approaches these issues through a variety of art works that are grouped into categories like revealing the male body; performing masculinity; (de)constructing male identity; and man enough. Drawing on the rich collection of the Spencer Museum, the exhibition explores the male body as a site of social agency through which norms of social conduct, and rebellion against normativity, are constructed, performed and contested. By pondering the socio-cultural dimensions of male identity, whether through representations of male space, the body, or idealized archetypes, the exhibition questions the modes and methods of male behavior as realized and represented visually by artists.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Swords into Plowshares; The Sword and the Plow, Edouard Drouot (1859–1945) — Edouard Drouot (1859–1945)

Swords into Plowshares; The Sword and the Plow, circa 1903

The Sluggard (An Athlete Awakening from Sleep), Frederic Leighton 1st Baron Leighton of Stretton (1830–1896) — Frederic Leighton 1st Baron Leighton of Stretton (1830–1896)

The Sluggard (An Athlete Awakening from Sleep), 1890

écorché (skinned) anatomical figure of a man, Michael Henry Spang (active begining 1756; died 1762); Edward Burch (1730–1814) — Michael Henry Spang (active begining 1756; died 1762); Edward Burch (1730–1814)

écorché (skinned) anatomical figure of a man, after 1761

torso of Apollo, circa 100 BCE–100 CE, Roman Empire (27 BCE–395 CE)

Boy in Venice, Adolf de Meyer (1868–1949) — Adolf de Meyer (1868–1949)

Boy in Venice, circa 1915

untitled, Jo Ann Callis (born 1940) — Jo Ann Callis (born 1940)

untitled, 1977

Portrait of Rene, Marie Cosindas (1923–2017) — Marie Cosindas (1923–2017)

Portrait of Rene, 1967

Christmas Eve, George Andrew Tice (1938–2025) — George Andrew Tice (1938–2025)

Christmas Eve, 1968

Two Miners, Datong, Shanxi Province, Liu Zheng (born 1969) — Liu Zheng (born 1969)

Two Miners, Datong, Shanxi Province, 1996

Four Boys at Barn Entrance, Terry Evans (born 1944) — Terry Evans (born 1944)

Four Boys at Barn Entrance, 1974

Pleasures and Terrors of Levitation 298, Aaron Siskind (1903–1991) — Aaron Siskind (1903–1991)

Pleasures and Terrors of Levitation 298, 1954

A Young Boy Plays "Tough" in the Streets of Harlem, Leonard Freed (1929–2006) — Leonard Freed (1929–2006)

A Young Boy Plays "Tough" in the Streets of Harlem, 1963

Man with Pitchfork, Rockwell Kent (1882–1971) — Rockwell Kent (1882–1971)

Man with Pitchfork, 1939

untitled, Lawton Silas Parker (1868–1954) — Lawton Silas Parker (1868–1954)

untitled, circa 1890s

Male Nude with Jug, John Severinus Conway (1852–1925) — John Severinus Conway (1852–1925)

Male Nude with Jug, circa 1880

Allegory of Spring, Theodor Mintrop (1814–1870) — Theodor Mintrop (1814–1870)

Allegory of Spring, 1851

Adam and the Beasts in the Garden, Francesco Grigiotti (active 1604–1635) — Francesco Grigiotti (active 1604–1635)

Adam and the Beasts in the Garden, 1631

Portrait of Baccio Bandinelli, Nicolò della Casa (active 1543–1547) — Nicolò della Casa (active 1543–1547)

Portrait of Baccio Bandinelli, circa 1543–1547

St. Jerome in Penitence, Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) — Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528)

St. Jerome in Penitence, circa 1497

Der Blutende (Bleeding Man), Max Oppenheimer (MOPP) (1885–1954) — Max Oppenheimer (MOPP) (1885–1954)

Der Blutende (Bleeding Man), 1910–1911

The Sluggard, Robert Mapplethorpe (1949–1989) — Robert Mapplethorpe (1949–1989)

The Sluggard, 1988

Umi no otoko (Man of the Sea), Saeki Shunko (1909–1942) — Saeki Shunko (1909–1942)

Umi no otoko (Man of the Sea), early 1930s, Showa period (1926–1989)

The Bonham Project Panel, Jon O'Neal (born 1957) — Jon O'Neal (born 1957)

The Bonham Project Panel, 1993

Rainbow Icon, Dennis K. Helm (1946–1992) — Dennis K. Helm (1946–1992)

Rainbow Icon, 1991

Portrait of Baptist May, Philippe Vignon (1638–1701) — Philippe Vignon (1638–1701)

Portrait of Baptist May, late 1600s

Portrait of Alexander Webb Weir, Julian Alden Weir (1852–1919) — Julian Alden Weir (1852–1919)

Portrait of Alexander Webb Weir, 1892

Suit Shopping: An Engraved Narrative, Andrew Raftery (born 1962); RISD Print Editions — Andrew Raftery (born 1962); RISD Print Editions

Suit Shopping: An Engraved Narrative, 2002

"Yes, it's Batman and Robin, and yes, it's Andy Warhol and his latest girl-person (named Nico), and that, friends, is the Sixties whether you like it or not...", Frank Bez (1930–2018) — Frank Bez (1930–2018)

"Yes, it's Batman and Robin, and yes, it's Andy Warhol and his latest girl-person (named Nico), and that, friends, is the Sixties whether you like it or not...", circa 1966

"The Masculinization of the American Woman", Carl Fischer (1924–2023); George Lois (1931–2022) — Carl Fischer (1924–2023); George Lois (1931–2022)

"The Masculinization of the American Woman", circa 1965

untitled (young man in white T-shirt), 1962?

Japan, Philip-Lorca DiCorcia (born 1951) — Philip-Lorca DiCorcia (born 1951)

Japan, 1994

Wayne Newton with personal aide and body guard, Mitch Greenberg, Neil Selkirk (born 1947) — Neil Selkirk (born 1947)

Wayne Newton with personal aide and body guard, Mitch Greenberg, 1973

Transvestite and Paddy Wagon, New York, Weegee (1899–1968) — Weegee (1899–1968)

Transvestite and Paddy Wagon, New York, circa 1940

It Doesn't Matter #1-3, Adrian Piper (born 1948) — Adrian Piper (born 1948)

It Doesn't Matter #1-3, 1975

Bothwell Browne, Orval Hixon (1884–1982) — Orval Hixon (1884–1982)

Bothwell Browne, 1920

Wife of the Painter Peter Abelen, Gunther Sander; August Sander (1876–1964) — Gunther Sander; August Sander (1876–1964)

Wife of the Painter Peter Abelen, 1926

Boy Scouts of America medal, Karl Heinrich Gruppe (1893–1982) — Karl Heinrich Gruppe (1893–1982)

Boy Scouts of America medal, 1952

medal, Bertold Nebel — Bertold Nebel

medal, 1945

flight medal, Brenda Putnam (1890–1975) — Brenda Putnam (1890–1975)

flight medal, 1942

medal, Sidney Biehler Waugh (1904–1963) — Sidney Biehler Waugh (1904–1963)

medal, 1946

Genesis medal, Adolph Alexander Weinman (1870–1952) — Adolph Alexander Weinman (1870–1952)

Genesis medal, 1949

medal, Laura Gardin Fraser (1889–1966) — Laura Gardin Fraser (1889–1966)

medal, 1930

medal, Robert Tait McKenzie (1867–1938) — Robert Tait McKenzie (1867–1938)

medal, 1936

Prometheus medal, Joseph Emile Renier (1887–1966) — Joseph Emile Renier (1887–1966)

Prometheus medal, 1941

medal, Chester Beach (1881–1956) — Chester Beach (1881–1956)

medal, 1937

MULTI-CORP, Functionless Multi-Tool, Matt McCoy (born 1962) — Matt McCoy (born 1962)

MULTI-CORP, Functionless Multi-Tool, 1986

untitled, Howard Forsberg (1918–2002) — Howard Forsberg (1918–2002)

untitled, 1951

Washington, D.C., John Vachon (1914–1975) — John Vachon (1914–1975)

Washington, D.C., circa 1940

Jack Dempsey Championship Fight..., N.Y., Ruth Harris Bohan (1891–1981) — Ruth Harris Bohan (1891–1981)

Jack Dempsey Championship Fight..., N.Y., 1927

Atom War - Underseas, Fred L. Freeman (1906–1988) — Fred L. Freeman (1906–1988)

Atom War - Underseas, 1951

Bolting Up a Big Turbine, Lewis Wickes Hine (1874–1940) — Lewis Wickes Hine (1874–1940)

Bolting Up a Big Turbine, 1920

Chili Dogs, Chicks, and Monster Trucks, Tom Hück (born 1972) — Tom Hück (born 1972)

Chili Dogs, Chicks, and Monster Trucks, 1999

untitled, from the Serra Pelada Mine, Sebastião Salgado (1944–2025) — Sebastião Salgado (1944–2025)

untitled, from the Serra Pelada Mine, 1986

At a First-Aid Center during Operation Prairie, also known as Reaching Out, Larry Burrows (1926–1971) — Larry Burrows (1926–1971)

At a First-Aid Center during Operation Prairie, also known as Reaching Out, 1966

In the Bath, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976) — Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)

In the Bath, 1935

Horseplay, Paul Cadmus (1904–1999) — Paul Cadmus (1904–1999)

Horseplay, 1935

Party at the Electric Circus, Jill Krementz (born 1940) — Jill Krementz (born 1940)

Party at the Electric Circus, 1967

Central Connecticut Motorcycle Club, Rudolph Janu (1934–2013) — Rudolph Janu (1934–2013)

Central Connecticut Motorcycle Club, circa 1966

Ohio River, Danny Lyon (born 1942) — Danny Lyon (born 1942)

Ohio River, 1966

untitled, Ernest Chiriacka (1913–2010) — Ernest Chiriacka (1913–2010)

untitled, 1953

Gunslinger, Daniel Dingler (born 1945) — Daniel Dingler (born 1945)

Gunslinger, date unknown

How to Use a Condom, Eric Avery (born 1948) — Eric Avery (born 1948)

How to Use a Condom, 1997

Nude Model (Male), Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Nude Model (Male), 1977

Levi's, Andy Warhol (1928–1987) — Andy Warhol (1928–1987)

Levi's, 1984

For William Burroughs with Love and Admiration, Keith Haring (1958–1990) — Keith Haring (1958–1990)

For William Burroughs with Love and Admiration, 1987

Men by the River, Dennis K. Helm (1946–1992) — Dennis K. Helm (1946–1992)

Men by the River, 1990

Couple, New York City, Morris Engel (1918–2005) — Morris Engel (1918–2005)

Couple, New York City, 1937

Barakei: Ordeal by Roses #34, Hosoe Eikō (1933–2024) — Hosoe Eikō (1933–2024)

Barakei: Ordeal by Roses #34, 1963

The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, Hans von Aachen (1552–1615) — Hans von Aachen (1552–1615)

The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, late 1500s–early 1600s

"The only sounds are music and an occasional ripple of laughter….", Constantine Manos (born 1934) — Constantine Manos (born 1934)

"The only sounds are music and an occasional ripple of laughter….", 1965

Brothel, Rue Quincampoix, Paris ca. 1932, Brassaï (1899–1984) — Brassaï (1899–1984)

Brothel, Rue Quincampoix, Paris ca. 1932, 1978

The Bronco Buster, Frederic Remington (1861–1909); Roman Bronze Works (founded 1899) — Frederic Remington (1861–1909); Roman Bronze Works (founded 1899)

The Bronco Buster, 1895, cast 1906

Parallax, Karen Chance — Karen Chance

Parallax, 1987

Sugawara no Michizane (The Poet Sugawara no Michizane), Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847–1915) — Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847–1915)

Sugawara no Michizane (The Poet Sugawara no Michizane), 1884, 2nd month, Meiji period (1868–1912)

義士夜討図 Gishi youchi zu (The Night Attack of the Faithful Samurai), Utagawa Yoshitsuya (1822–1866) — Utagawa Yoshitsuya (1822–1866)

義士夜討図 Gishi youchi zu (The Night Attack of the Faithful Samurai), 1857, Edo period (1600–1868)

untitled, W. Eugene Smith (1918–1978) — W. Eugene Smith (1918–1978)

untitled, mid-late 1900s

Red Jackson, Harlem Gang Leader, Gordon Parks (1912–2006) — Gordon Parks (1912–2006)

Red Jackson, Harlem Gang Leader, 1948

The Red Tablecloth, Walter Stuempfig (1914–1970) — Walter Stuempfig (1914–1970)

The Red Tablecloth, mid 1900s

The Circumcision of Christ, Hendrick Goltzius (1558–1617) — Hendrick Goltzius (1558–1617)

The Circumcision of Christ, 1594

Daddy likes the Lawn Neat and Trim, Brian Sailer — Brian Sailer

Daddy likes the Lawn Neat and Trim, 1998

Ogden Reid, congressman and millionaire, with his son, Stewart, fifteen, Diane Arbus (1923–1971) — Diane Arbus (1923–1971)

Ogden Reid, congressman and millionaire, with his son, Stewart, fifteen, 1965

Frise du haut: chasse au sanglier. Frise du bas: chasse au cerf dans des rinceaux. (Top scene: boar hunt. Bottom scene: stag hunt.), Pierre Mariette II; Jean le Pautre — Pierre Mariette II; Jean le Pautre

Frise du haut: chasse au sanglier. Frise du bas: chasse au cerf dans des rinceaux. (Top scene: boar hunt. Bottom scene: stag hunt.), mid-late 1600s

Chopper - LA, Graciela Iturbide (born 1942) — Graciela Iturbide (born 1942)

Chopper - LA, 1986

Jack Dracula, the Marked Man, Diane Arbus (1923–1971) — Diane Arbus (1923–1971)

Jack Dracula, the Marked Man, 1961

Fabian, Art Kane (1925–1995) — Art Kane (1925–1995)

Fabian, 1960

Llalla Pallooza...Image fades but memory lingers on, Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005) — Eduardo Paolozzi (1924–2005)

Llalla Pallooza...Image fades but memory lingers on, 1970

Ramsey Unit TDC, Danny Lyon (born 1942) — Danny Lyon (born 1942)

Ramsey Unit TDC, 1968

The Healing Touch, Will Hicok Low (1853–1932) — Will Hicok Low (1853–1932)

The Healing Touch, 1906

untitled, Thomas Klaverkamp (1942–1986) — Thomas Klaverkamp (1942–1986)

untitled, 1979

Self-portrait (Seated Figure, No. 1), John Coplans (1920–2003) — John Coplans (1920–2003)

Self-portrait (Seated Figure, No. 1), 1987

Events

September 3, 2009

Talk

Gallery Conversation on xy

6:00–7:30PM

Gallery 407

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute

Episode 194 Jul-2009, Kris Ercums I’m David Cateforis with another Art Minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. Male sexuality is determined by the x- and y-chromosomes, but what does it mean to be a man? Xy, a current Spencer exhibition, explores the complicated issue of masculinity from a variety of viewpoints, across time and culture through a wide array of artworks. In this exhibition, the male body serves as a site of social agency through which norms of conduct and rebellion against normativity are constructed, performed, and contested. By pondering the sociocultural dimensions of male identity, whether through images of male space, activity, the body, or idealized archetypes, the exhibition questions the modes and methods of male behavior as realized and represented by artists. Drawn almost exclusively from the Spencer’s collection, xy includes paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints and drawings, and new media, ranging from an ancient Roman marble Torso of Apollo to a 20th-century photograph of American teen idol Fabian. Organized by Spencer curator Kris Ercums, xy is on view through October 5. From the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.

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