Home › Books › Photography › Black Masculinities

Coverbild Black Masculinities
A high-angle shot of the book Black Masculinities, edited by Joshua Amissah and published by Hatje Cantz. The hardcover book has a minimalist black and white design, with the title in a bold, sans-serif font on the cover and spine, and is displayed on a white surface.
A vertical, front-on shot of the book Black Masculinities against a white background. The book cover is minimalist and mostly solid black. The title is written vertically in black capital letters along the left side, starting on the white spine and fading into the black cover. In the bottom right corner, white text reads EDITED BY JOSHUA AMISSAH, with the publisher HATJE CANTZ below.
The back cover of the book Black Masculinities: Creating Emotive Utopias Through Photography. The cover is black with white text, featuring a description of the visual anthology and a long list of the contributing artists. The right side of the cover has a grainy, black-to-light-grey gradient. The ISBN, barcode, and publisher's website are at the bottom.
An open book on a white background showing a two-page spread of color photographs. On the left, a muscular Black man in red trousers is seen from behind, his torso wrapped in a green rope. On the right, two muscular Black men, one in orange and one in blue pants, are seated in an intimate embrace.
An open black photobook on a white surface. The left page shows a photo of a muscular Black man from behind, his back covered in sand, silhouetted against a light blue sky. The right page shows a silhouetted close-up portrait of a Black man's face against a pale sky.
An open art book on a white surface, displaying a two-page spread. On the left, two androgynous people of color in white, ruffled dresses hold hands against a red background. The right page shows a close-up profile portrait of one of the individuals, highlighting their face and a gold earring.
A table of contents with two columns of names and page numbers in a black serif font on a white background. Each entry lists a name in all caps with a page number below it. The left column starts with Braylen Dion, and the right column starts with Namafu Amutse.
A two-page spread from a book with black text on a white background. The left page, numbered 2, has sections titled EDITOR'S NOTE and REFRAMING MANHOOD. The right page, numbered 3, is titled PUSHING THE LIMITS OF NARRATION. The text discusses the representation of Black masculinity in visual culture and a book titled BLACK MASCULINITIES.
A two-page spread from a book, pages 6 and 7. The left page is titled EMOTIVE UTOPIAS and discusses the work of Black photographers. The right page is titled EMPOWERMENT INSTEAD OF OPPRESSION and contains an essay on representation, ending with the signature and printed name of Joshua Amissah.
A diptych of two portraits in bright sunlight. On the left, a Black person in a white tank top tilts their head back against a yellow wall, balancing a colorful toy sword on their chin, creating a dramatic shadow. On the right, a person seen from behind wears a tight magenta top and pulls it over their head, their hands stretching the fabric from the inside against a pink wall.
A two-panel fashion photograph of a Black person in a high-fashion, androgynous outfit. On the left, they sit in an ornate chair wearing a turquoise blazer with large rosettes, a ruffled mint green skirt, a gray hat, and cowboy boots. On the right is a close-up portrait focusing on their direct gaze, the hat, and the details of the jacket and a pearl choker against a muted, painterly background.
A photographic diptych of a Black man. On the left is a full-length color portrait of him standing against a white background, wearing a light-colored shirt and pants, sunglasses, and a baseball cap. On the right is a tight, black-and-white, close-up shot of his face as he looks directly at the camera with a serious expression.
A diptych of two photographs of Black individuals by the sea. The left image shows an arm giving a thumbs-up towards a bird in the sky over the water. The right image shows two people standing close together, their heads and faces obscured by vibrant red, translucent veils.
A diptych of two high-contrast, color photographs of a Black man with braided hair and glistening skin against a white sheet. On the left, he is in profile with his eyes closed. On the right, a close-up of his face shows him bringing his hand to his closed eye.
A fashion diptych showing a Black model in two different outfits, photographed outdoors in front of a white building and palm trees. On the left, he wears a chainmail-style bralette, black leather pants with a gold chain overlay, and long black gloves. On the right, the same model wears a gold chainmail vest over a white T-shirt and baggy, high-waisted blue jeans.
A diptych showing a young Black person with highlighted skin against a vibrant red background. On the left, they are in profile wearing a red tank top and a silver necklace. On the right, they are seen from a three-quarter back view with eyes closed, hands clasped, wearing a red t-shirt and gold hoops in their hair.
A two-panel fashion photograph. On the left, a man in a terracotta-colored jacket and white pants walks across a sandy, barren landscape. On the right, a close-up shows a young Black man wearing a structured teal jacket, looking at the camera while sitting on a brown horse.
A two-panel fashion photograph of a Black person with a tall, sculpted afro against a vibrant blue background. On the left, a full-body shot shows them in a lime-green suit and chunky black shoes with yellow soles. On the right, a close-up portrait reveals their face cast in a magenta light as they look directly into the camera.
A black and white photograph of a shirtless Black man with white angel wings, riding a dark horse that is rearing up on a beach next to the ocean.
The black and white cover of the book Black Masculinities, edited by Joshua Amissah. The title runs vertically down the left side in black text over a grainy texture that fades from white to black.
Black Masculinities
creating emotive utopias through photography
€ 40.00
VAT included. Shipping costs will be calculated at checkout
Designed by: Joshua Amissah, Elliot Frydenberg
Edited by: Joshua Amissah
June 2023, 320 Pages, 223 Photos
Hardcover
217mm x 282mm
ISBN: 978-3-7757-5519-1

HATJE CANTZ VERLAG
Mommsenstr. 27
10629 Berlin
Germany
E-Mail: contact@hatjecantz.de


According to Article 9(7) of the GPSR Regulation, no additional security information is required for books without supplements or special functions.

Press download
| Showing The Great Diversity of Black Masculinities
Black Masculinities explores the broad spectrum and diversity of Black masculinities through the medium of contemporary photography. Seen through the lenses of 22 Black (or) People of Color (BPoC) from around the world, the stereotypic entanglement of Black identity and masculinity is deconstructed and charged with a new set of values. Embedded in a long history of slavery, racism and oppression, the topos of Black masculinity continues to be subtly represented as aggressive, hypersexual and violent to this day. This richly illustrated book breaks down and visualizes the common mechanisms of representation in visual culture through carefully edited images and a textual contextualization. It acts as an introductory index and platform for BPoC photographers, who have been underrepresented at all levels of art production since the beginnings of photography, and makes their work visible. For all of us. 

 FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHERS: Kemka Ajoku, Kwaku Alston, Namafu Amutse, Eric Asamoah, Nuits Balnéaires, Arielle Bobb-Willis, Braylen Dion, Kofi Duah, Yannis Davy Guibinga, Jabari Jacobs, Kelvin Konadu, Jude Lartey, Naomi Mukadi, Maganga Mwagogo, Lakin Ogunbanwo, Ruby Okoro, Rogers Ouma, Micha Serraf, Ngadi Smart, Isaac West, Jozef Wright, Ussi'n Yala

JOSHUA AMISSAH (*1995, Switzerland) studied fine arts, photography, and design at the Zurich University of the Arts. He works as a designer, (photo)editor, art educator and curator at the intersection of image and text. From 2019 - 2022 he was co-curator of photoSCHWEIZ and was the main curator of the Black Art Matters exhibition in this role in 2020. He lives and works between Berlin and Zurich.
»Black Masculinities is a collection that prioritises community-building and empowerment. It recognises a diverse range of identities, acknowledging there is no singular definition or experience of being a Black man. «
Aesthetica Magazine
Recommendations for you