The Extremely HomoErotic Art of… Sadao Hasegawa

Posted in Erotic Art, NSFW on 03/12/2010 06:01 pm by fanboi

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INTERNATIONAL and HISTORIC HOMOEROTIC HALL of FAME NOMINEE:

Japan’s "greatest homoerotic artist", Sadao Hasegawa (長谷川サダオ, Hasegawa Sadao, 1945(?) – November 20, 1999) created compelling works that were both deeply erotic and spiritual. His work has historical roots in the premodern Shunga works which depicted both hetero and homo erotic scenes as well as a wide range of fetishes, but is peppered with the mythology of other cultures as well as modern elements.

the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions

His work often incorporates Japanese, Indian, South-East Asian and African mythology with bondage and sadomasochistic scenes featuring muscular asian men in ectasy. His editor once said "Sadao’s drawings transcend the level of pornography, emulating likenesses found in Buddhist art." The combination of figures and sybolism stylistically inspired by a number of cultures and his extreme sexual situations surrounded by elaborate fantastic settings does lend a certain sacred quality to these erotic fleeting moments.

Snake I (1980) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa Dragon God (1981) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions
the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions
the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa Lion Dance II (1982) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa To the Sea (1979) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa

Sadao Hasegawa was a principle illustrator for Barazoku (Japan’s most distinguished gay publication) for over 20 years and also appeared in many other gay magazines. The first self-titled book collectiong his works, Sadao Hasegawa was published in 1990 and has been reprinted 3 times, but few copies are still available. A second collection of his work called Paradise Visions was published in 1996.

the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions
Fire Spirit (1981) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa Dragon God II (1981) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa
the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions Festival (1982) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa

In addition to his obvious historical and cultural inspirations, many of these images are noticebly influenced by the bright colors and geometric design motifs common to the work of many western graphic designers of the 80s as well as the art of western homoerotic illustrators such as Tom of Finland and Etienne as well as the work of his idol, Barazoku illustrator Goh Mishma (1924-1989).

the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa
the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions Kabuki III (1981) Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa
the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions Festivities I (1981) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa That Floating Feeling (1980) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions

Sadly, Sadao Hasegawa committed suicide on November 20, 1999. His body was found in a hotel room where he had hanged himself in a manner that resembled the suicide of a Samurai warrior and left behind a note "asking forgiveness for his life" and a portait he’d painted on a rock of author Yukio Mishima (who committed harikiri when he felt he’d reached perfection). This has led some to infer that the 54 year old Sadao felt his art had reached perfection and therfore similarly decided to end his life.

The mysteries surrounding the death of both men remain deeply rooted in centuries of cultural traditions, philosophies often confusing to the Western mind.

the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions Joyfully Seeking the Impure Land I (1981) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa
the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa Tango (1980) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa - from Paradise Visions Joyfully Seeking the Impure Land II (1981) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa
the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa

He left behind a body of work that was almost lost. His brother first threw away all the work he found when cleaning out Sadao’s home, but then rescued what he’d tossed after receiving a letter postmarked from Bangkok before Sadao’s death asking him to see to it that his art would be sold at Naruyama Gallery.

the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa To Beardsley (1982) by Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa
the work of Japanese male erotica artist Sadao Hasegawa

I’m looking to add more international artists to the HomoErotic Artist index, so if you know of any I should consider, PLEASE leave a comment!

via JeuneAsianArt, Feuilleton, ComradeX and TomofFinlandFoundation

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5 Comments

  1.  
    Sgt. Sausagepants gaygamer.net
    03/12/2010 at 11:38 pm

    Very sexy

  2.  
    Matthew (not Matt)
    03/14/2010 at 9:27 am

    You have several international artists on your sidebar… in additiona to Ismael Alvarez (who has already been featured) there’s the Britdooodz, Logan (he’s French), Patrick Fillion (Canadian), Palanca (Brazillian), and more. There’s also Gengoroh Tagame, if you’re into japanese musclebear s&m. Sven de Rennes does some sweetly romantic naked art, I think out of Belgium? Tom Bouden is European, but I am not sure I can narrow that down for you. His work is more comic-strip-y, but worth checking out. Good luck, have fun!

  3.  
    wondermann southern4life.blogspot.com
    03/14/2010 at 9:52 am

    very nice indeed

  4.  
    wondermann southern4life.blogspot.com
    03/14/2010 at 9:59 am

    hot

  5.  
    Sal
    03/20/2010 at 11:31 am

    You should look up Takeshi Matsu

    He and several other artists are well known in the somewhat underground Bara or Barazoku genre of manga in Japan.

    Unlike Yaoi or shonen-ai which is typically made by female creators for a female audience, and forgoes any real discussion of homosexual issues, Bara is made by gay men for gay men is much more explicit and often reflects themes that homosexual men in Japan really face.

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