Men Looking at Men

In this episode of the LRB Podcast, host Malin Hay convenes a rich and nuanced discussion with contributing editors Tom Crewe and James Butler about their recent pieces in the London Review of Books, both exploring queer identity in pre-20th century Europe through art and history. Tom’s review of Gustave Caibot’s work examines the French Impressionist’s striking focus on male figures and his innovative, almost voyeuristic perspective—what he terms a 'cruising eye'—suggesting a gay gaze even in the absence of definitive biographical evidence. James’ review of Noel Malcolm’s *Forbidden Desire in Early Modern Europe* challenges the assumption that homosexuality was absent or unrecognizable in Northern Europe, arguing instead for a culturally distinct, Mediterranean-centered pattern of male-male relations, while cautioning against both over-reading and under-reading historical evidence. The conversation delves into the complex relationship between male sociality and sexuality, the limitations of identity-based historiography, and the enduring power of historical recognition for LGBTQ+ individuals. Both guests reflect on how modern cultural representations of gay life—such as in *Heartstopper*—often sanitize desire, prioritizing sentimentality over the disruptive, dangerous, and transformative nature of queer experience. Ultimately, the episode affirms that gay history is not just about the past, but a vital, ongoing act of self-identification and political meaning-making.