Tom of Finland: Bikers, Vol. 2 (25)
The artist:Touko Laaksonen, the boy who would becomeTom of Finland(1920-1991), began drawing cartoons at age five. His favorite subjects  were the rough manly men of his native Finland, as Touko knew from an  early age that men interested him more than women. His talents were  further honed by art study in Helsinki. He found success in the Finnish  advertising industry but secretly continued creating his increasingly  erotic drawings of hyper-masculine men. In 1957 he submitted some  drawings to the American magazinePhysique Pictorialand the  "Tom of Finland" legend was born. By the late '60s Tom's "dirty  drawings" became the standard for gay art, and Tom's Men a template for a  new gay masculinity. Tom's art continues to play an important role in  promoting self-confidence, positive self-image and openness in the gay  community.The editor:Dian Hansonwas born in Seattle in 1951. For 25 years she produced various men’s magazines, includingPuritan,JuggsandLeg Show, before becoming TASCHEN's sexy book editor in 2001. Her many books for TASCHEN includeVanessa del Rio: Fifty Years of Slightly Slutty Behavior, Tom of Finland XXL, andThe Big Butt Book. She lives in Los Angeles.