This gelatin silver print shows the back of a male figure standing by the sea. His skin is wet and covered with droplets of water, which catch the light and highlight the muscular tension of his body. The figure, turned away from the viewer, appears both sculptural and timeless. The sea in the background adds a sense of calm and eternity.
The print belongs to a limited edition of 25. This copy is numbered 2/25 on the verso and bears the official Herbert List Estate seal. It was produced under the direction of Max Scheler, who managed the estate between 1975 and 2003. The photograph measures 33.5 x 22.5 cm, mounted on a sheet of 40 x 30.5 cm.
Herbert List is often linked to magical realism in photography. His work combines classical harmony with modern sensibility. In this image, the male body becomes an archetype, a bridge between the personal and the universal. The play of light and shadow creates a sculptural effect, recalling both Greek statuary and modern photography’s fascination with form.
The importance of this photograph is confirmed by its inclusion in key publications:
Herbert List: The Magic Eye (Fundación La Caixa / IVAM, 2000, p. 122)
Herbert List (Silvana Editoriale, Milan, 2014, p. 110)
Herbert List (Bucerius Kunst Forum / Hirmer Verlag, 2022, p. 126)
These references show how the work remains central to List’s artistic legacy.
List’s vision aligns with other photographers who explored the male form, such as George Platt Lynes and Horst P. Horst. Like them, he balanced sensuality with elegance, presenting the body as both physical reality and timeless ideal.
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