Warpaint, Male Makeup and Identity Through Time

Warpaint – Male Makeup and Identity Through Time
Authors: gestalten & Joshua Sims

Warpaint – Male Makeup and Identity Through Time is a stimulating and visually powerful coffee table book that reveals the often-underexposed history of male makeup and self-adornment. From ancient rituals and war paint to glam rock, punk, pop icons and contemporary street culture: this book shows how men throughout time used makeup to express identity, power, rebellion and belonging.

Through rich visual selections and sharp cultural analyses, Warpaint explores the male face and body as a canvas for transformation. Makeup proves to be not only an aesthetic choice but also a social, political and psychological statement. At a time when masculinity is being redefined and the market for men's grooming and cosmetics is growing strongly, this photo book offers a timely and in-depth reflection on appearance as both conformity and rebellion.

With historical objects, archive images and contemporary photography, Warpaint connects past and present. The result is an inspiring coffee table book for lovers of fashion, culture, identity, subcultures and social history.

What to expect

• A cultural history of male makeup, from ritual body paint to modern street style
• Images of historical artifacts, archives, and contemporary male makeup and body art
• Insightful essays on power, identity, masculinity, and expression
• A unique perspective on beauty, self-image, and cultural codes

About the authors

gestalten is an internationally renowned publisher from Berlin, founded in 1995. The brand is known for high-quality coffee table books on design, fashion, architecture, art and visual culture. Gestalten collaborates with leading creative thinkers and makers, translating cultural developments into books with a strong visual and substantive impact.

Joshua Sims is a journalist and author specializing in style, design, and subcultures. In his work, he explores the relationship between fashion, identity, and social norms, with a particular focus on masculinity and the social significance of clothing and appearance. He has written extensively on menswear and the evolution of male self-expression and is considered a perceptive commentator on contemporary culture.