Butch in Progress

“Betty Carstairs’ Island” - Life Magazine

[K] Our love for vintage butch and heiress extraodinaire Betty “Joe” Carstairs is already well-established, but if this Life Magazine article from February 17th, 1941 is to be believed, we are in pretty good company. Among the not-quite-unimpressed descriptions of Carstairs qualities are:

• “alert and boyish face [which] does not show her 41 years”
• “notice the tattoo marks on her muscular left arm”
• “expert sailor”
• “sturdy tennis player”
• “demon cyclist”

Add to that her affair with Marlene Dietrich and I think we can just crown her “most impressive butch ever” and be done with it…

“Das Lied ist aus/The Song is Over” - 20 Years Ago Marlene Dietrich died

The song might be over, but the melody is still lingering.

[K] Marlene Dietrich, 1901-1992, film star, fashion icon, sex symbol, singer, soldier and so much more…

When you’re dead, you’re dead. That’s it. (Marlene Dietrich)

… unless your legacy is as long-lasting as Marlene Dietrich’s, whose image and allure seems to be as enthralling as ever.

I suggest you brighten your Sunday night by watching a Dietrich movie (I sure did).

Berencie Abbott (1898-1991) - Lesbian Portraits

[B] It’s monday night and therefore most definetly time to introduce another lesbian photographer. Right?

Berencie Abbott is most known for her photographs of New York’s cityscape, but especially in the context of queer history and aesthetics her portraits of lesbian and bisexuals left a lasting impression. The portraits here show Gwen Le Gallienne, Jane Heap (my personal favorite), Janet Flanner, Solita Solano and last but not least Sylvia Beach.

To fulfill everyones desire for lesbian gossip, Berencie Abbott had a relationship with Thelma Wood and Tylia Perlmutter.

“The All-time Ultimate Gallery of Famous Dykes”

[K] Truman Capote on Romaine Brooks’ portraits - admittedly, he does have a point: pictured you see

• Ida Rubinstein (1885-1960): dancer (for Ballet Russes among others),  bisexual, with a taste for scandal on and off stage and 3-year affair with Romaine Brooks
• Gluck (Hannah Gluckstein) (1895-1978): gender-bending painter with a vast selection of female lovers
• Lady Una Troubridge (1887-1963): writer, translator and partner of Radclyffe Hall
• Lily de Gramont (1875-1954): aristocrat, writer and long-term partner of Natalie Clifford Barney
• Natalie Clifford Barney (1876-1972): novelist, poet, owner of a salon in Paris, where all the cool kids (=lesbians) hang out, lover of almost every famous lesbian of that generation including the women mentioned above and below

And finally:

• Romaine Brooks herself (1874 - 1970): painter (obviously) and long-term partner of writer Natalie Clifford Barney

Jeanne Mammen (1890 - 1976)

[K] Despite my fondness for photography, I find myself enthralled by these paintings that capture the energy of Berlin’s lesbian subculture at its finest…

(I’m might get nostalgic again for something I never experienced - but it’s hard not too - they all look gorgeous, defiant and fierce in the best possible way.)

In case you - like me until ca. 48 hours ago - are not quite familiar with the creator of these art works, how’s this for an introduction:

Jeanne Mammen was one of the most talented artists and illustrators to emerge from Germany’s Weimar epoch (1919-1933), … At a time when the predominant style was a frequently harsh and unflattering realism, Mammen dedicated her art to the gently satirical, sometimes sympathetic, representation of Berlin’s diverse constituencies, particularly the newly visible lesbian. (ArtTattler)

Alice’s Wonder Land

[K] Alice Austen (1866-1952): one of America’s first female photographers and long overdue to be mentioned on this blog, because the lady was a badass. Not only did she take quasi-photojournalistic pictures of not just her family and friends, but also the city of New York before most of the rest of the world thought of using the new medium like that, she also defied Victorian ideals of womanhood throughout her life - and dared documenting it. Instead of taking pictures of flowers and “womanly stuff”, Austen documented the city life and the life of what today might becalled ‘gender outlaws’, instead of being an “angel of the house”, she spent her time travelling (as well as playing tennis, cycling, hiking etc) and following her passion for photography, and instead of choosing a fake marriage, she lived with a woman - Getrude Tate. 

The couple met in 1899  - though it took another 18 years before Tate moved in with Austen. The two women lived and work together, supported each other until poverty forced Tate to go back to her family. Their wish to be buried together was sadly denied by the surviving relatives. Yet at least professionaly, Austen’s life offered a happy ending: shortly before her death, her work was rediscovered and featured in LIFE magazine, which allowed Austen to life off her art for the first time in her life at age 85.

Sidenote: We know Alice Austen must have been gay, because there is a musical about her life. Plus: You know finally have a reason to visit Staten Island - her home is open to the public as a museum.

Recommended Reading: Alice’s World.

[Edit:] For a modern spin on Austen’s pictures, have a look at Steven Rosen’s contemporary reproductions of two of her most iconic pictures.

I was the Marlon Brando of my Generation - Bette Davis

(Image Source: Old Acquaintance @ Dr. Macro’s)

Marlene Dietrich re-invented as Street Art

For more amazing street art photography by Ulrich Blanchet go to his flickr photostream.

Treasures from Mercedes de Acosta’s Bequest - Greta Garbo

[K] After portraits of Mercedes de Acosta herself - most envy-worthy butch ever - and pictures she took of one of her most famous lovers, Marlene Dietrich, part three of the “Treasures from Mercedes de Acosta’s Bequest”-series shows intimate snapshots of Mercedes’ other famous lover, Greta Garbo.

Enjoy these rare glimpses into the private (and sporty) life of one of Hollywood’s most elusive - and yet biggest - stars.

(All pictures courtesy of the Rosenbach Museum and Libary.)

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!

From Butch in Progress via (the very subtextual) Thelma Todd - enjoy whatever you do to celebrate/not celebrate these days.

Maybe this is also a good opportunity to say: Thanks For Following!