Bruce Rapp’s Boot (1986) is a striking, monochromatic print that captures the essence of gay leather culture in the 1980s. Rendered in bold black ink on cream paper, the image zooms in on a single leather boot—its rugged texture, seams, and buckle detailed with precise, tactile realism.
The work reflects Rapp’s deeper connection to the gay-leather scene—a subculture that fused eroticism with self-expression and community. His connection extended beyond printmaking: Rapp also contributed illustrations to Drummer magazine, created safe-sex posters, and authored a Spanish-language comic, Chicos Modernos, which addressed HIV/AIDS among young Latinos.
