Warpaint: Male Makeup and Identity Through Time

Warpaint explores the often overlooked history of male self-adornment - a cultural practice through which men have performed identity, projected power, and negotiated their place in society.

From the ritual pigments of ancient tribes to the rebellious aesthetics of modern subcultures, the male face and body have long been canvases for transformation, defiance, and desire. As traditional notions of masculinity are redefined and the global male beauty market surges, Warpaint reflects on how appearance becomes a tool of conformity and resistance. Through striking imagery and incisive commentary, it reveals the social, political, and psychological forces shaping how men choose to be seen or disappear.

Authored by cultural commentator Joshua Sims, Warpaint reframes these practices not as superficial embellishment but as enduring rituals of expression, subversion, and belonging - essential to the ongoing evolution of masculinity.

Author: Josh Sims
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Gestalten
Published: 06/30/2026
Pages: 224
Weight: 3.15lbs
Size: 11.60h x 9.10w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9783967042214