Paul Cadmus

Self Portrait with beret

Paul Cadmus (1904 – 1999) was an American artist. He is best known for his paintings and drawings of nude male figures. His works combined elements of eroticism and social critique to produce a style often called magic realism. He painted with egg tempera.

In 1934 he painted The Fleet's In! while working for the Public Works of Art Project of the WPA. This painting, featuring carousing sailors, women, and a homosexual couple, was the subject of a public outcry and was removed from exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery. The publicity helped to launch his career. He worked in commercial illustration as well, but Jared French, another tempera artist who befriended him and became his lover for a time, convinced him to devote himself completely to fine art.

Jon Andersson, who became Cadmus's longtime companion of 35 years, was a subject of many of his works.

The Bicyclists, 1933

In 1999 he died in his home in Weston, Connecticut due to advanced age, just five days short of his 95^th birthday.

Cadmus is ranked by the Russian Federation Artists Trade Union amongst the 10.000 best world artists (XVIII–XXI centuries"