‘Amor II.’ Hammamet, Tunisia, 1934

As a gay artist, Herbet List not only captured moments that were connected to a glance of erotic desire but also developed a visual language to symbolize love and friendship in same-sex couples. Produced during a politically turbulent moment in European history, his work shows an escapist and idealist state of mind, where the power of youth and romance perseveres. But beneath the playful surface of List’s compositions lies deeper explorations of sexuality, framed within the context of a culture where, in many countries, homosexuality was illegal.