British Museum’s gay history guide
British Museum’s gay history guide
‘From the other side of the world and almost two millennia later, Japanese prints include many erotic scenes with a range of desires. This print by the artist Chokyosai Eiri shows two ladies preparing to anoint a large sex toy with ointment. One says, “Hurry up and put it in!”’
The British Museum has launched a guide focusing on elements of homosexuality to be found in its collection.
A Little Gay History draws on objects ranging from ancient Egyptian papyri and the erotic scenes on the Roman Warren Cup to images by David Hockney.
Written by curator Richard Parkinson, it explores artistic portrayals of what it means to be gay and the difficulties in finding records of same-sex desire.
The guide is accompanied by an audio trail featuring Simon Russell Beale.
