For the past eight years, Mad Men has given us a dramatic look at the lives of executive men in the 60s and the decadent filled lives they led. While there are certainly some dynamic female characters, it is the men that undoubtedly get the focus—done on purpose as a way to depict the era. In fact, some women are often treated as trophies for the pleasure of men and these vintage photographs found in a briefcase document a woman put on display for the gaze of her lover:
Günter K., 39, and Margret S., 24, had an affair for nineteen months, according to Feature Shoot, and long after the two had parted ways, Günter’s souvenirs of their affair served as an eerie reminder of their sexual history. Fingernail clippings, red hair (pubic and head), empty birth control pills and an array of photographs were a reminder of Margret and their affair.
Margret pictured in varying states of undress, combined with the other mementos and meticulous diary entries serve as a reminder of a woman who was mostly fantasy to Günter. The photos are sexual and intimate, but remove her human struggle: the fear of her husband finding out about the love affair, the illegal abortion she had to get—all the humanity is drained for desire’s sake.
The obsessive nature of the photos, notes, and items serve to show how even in a consensual relationship, a woman can be reduced into a shell of who she really is by the sheer intensity of the male gaze.
Images c/o Feature Shoot
