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AEDThe Hun (William Schmeling) (American, 1938-2019)
About Seller
1155 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02909
United States
Vallot Auctioneers was founded in 2003 as a fine art specialty auction house in Tribeca, and recognized as one of the first fine art specialty auction galleries in Manhattan. Now based in Providence, RI, the auction house continues the excellence in focusing on bringing fresh quality lots to the mar...Read more
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About Auction
LiveJun 18, 2026
Our AFTER DARK/SUMMER auction features fine art that celebrates the beauty of the male form across a variety of genres and mediums, from late 19th-Century depictions of affectionate men, to daring new approaches to gender and sexuality in contemporary art. Our latest catalog showcases exceptional works from gay trailblazers such as Paul Cadmus, Wilhelm von Gloeden, René Bolliger, Sam Steward, and many more. Vallots Auctioneers info@vallots.com
View Full Catalog (125)
- Lot Description
Just for Practice, 1985.
Ten (10) individual works consisting of one (1) finished ink and graphite illustration alongside nine (9) preparatory drawings.
Signed and dated on the bottom center of the completed work, "The Hun 1985"; Titled and dated on the left of one preparatory drawing.
Various sizes; largest: 17 x 14 in (43.2 x 35.6 cm).
Notes:
Bill Schmeling, best-known by his pseudonym The Hun, was an American cartoonist who became a leading figure in the world of homoerotic and fetish art. Schmeling began his professional career in the 1960s working as an illustrator for beefcake magazines like Physique Pictorial under the pen name Torro. Though he did not receive formal artistic training, Schmeling absorbed the example of prominent contemporary artists active in homoerotic and fetish arts scene —Etienne, Al Schapiro (A. Jay), Domino, REX, and Bill Ward— in developing his own unique visual style. Schmeling was a lifelong friend of Tom of Finland and, in 2002, he was the third inductee of the Tom of Finland Foundation’s Erotic Artist Hall of Fame, celebrating his unique contributions to the genre of erotic art. [1]
His artistic persona, The Hun, was inspired by the historical nomadic tribe which besieged Europe between the 4th and 6th centuries CE reflective of the raw and violent content present in his work. Schmeling’s art often depicted exaggerated forms of masculinity and explored themes such as leather culture, power dynamics, and the complexities of same-sex desire.
[1] “Bill ‘the Hun’ Schmeling | 30th April 1938 – 12th September 2019.” Tom of Finland Foundation. September 13, 2019. https://www.tomoffinland.org/bill-the-hun-schmeling-30th-april-1938-12th-september-2019/
Condition
Various conditions consistent with age; Many of the preparatory sketches display minor toning, creasing, foxing, adhesive residue, and minor soiling; The completed work has some minor creasing on the bottom right edge.
For further condition details, or additional details, please contact info@vallots.com - Provenance
Property of an International Institution.
- Shipping Info
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