Untitled (Durk and Harry), 1984 Poster by Tom of Finland

Discover a rare and intimate side of Tom of Finland, born Touko Laaksonen (1920–1999), one of the most influential gay artists of the 20th century. At a time when homosexuality was both criminalized and classified as a disease, Laaksonen worked discreetly under pseudonyms, creating art that would later achieve worldwide recognition.

In his darkened home studio and private darkroom, he began photographing and developing portraits he called reference photos. To hand them in for development would have been too risky, as exposure could mean imprisonment. These images, hidden for decades, reveal the foundations of his iconic visual language of homoerotic art and queer identity.

The exhibition The Darkroom at Fotografiska Stockholm, marking the centenary of his birth, unveiled this lesser-known side of Laaksonen’s artistry, highlighting the courage and creativity that fueled his groundbreaking work.

Artist: Tom of Finland (Touko Laaksonen)
Poster: Untitled (Durk and Harry), 1984
Exhibition: The Darkroom
Size: 50x70 cm
Printed on-demand on 170 g matte paper