Inside LES CHAISES, Sébastien’s Sculptural Photo Book
Sébastien, the artist behind Etat d’Homme, doesn’t simply photograph bodies; he constructs quiet, deliberate compositions where form, light, and emotion meet. Working exclusively with natural light, his images are restrained and minimal, yet charged with tension and intimacy. The result is a body of work that feels precise, self-aware, and deeply intentional.
Though he only began working in male nude portraiture during the pandemic, Sébastien’s visual language feels fully formed. His images balance clarity and suggestion, drawing the viewer in without excess, an approach that culminates in his first photo book, LES CHAISES.
From Translation to Transformation
Before photography took center stage, Sébastien worked as a translator. That attentiveness to nuance and meaning now carries over into his visual practice.
While living in Lisbon, he began photographing men as a way to connect with others in a new city. What started as a social gesture quickly became something more personal and expansive. Through his camera, creativity and human connection merged — and his artistic direction sharpened.
Leaving the Countryside Behind
Sébastien grew up in the French countryside, an experience he summarizes bluntly: he hated it. At 24, he moved to Paris, where a camera gifted by his grandfather opened the door to photography. “What I instantly liked about it was the possibility of creating images,” he says. “The beauty of a photograph that will live on.”
Finding Focus in Barcelona
Early on, his work leaned toward minimalist street photography. That shifted during the COVID lockdowns, when, confined at home with his partner, Sébastien turned the camera inward. Photographing his partner marked his first exploration of nude portraiture — and a turning point. That same partner remains his creative collaborator today, helping with book design and technical production.
Now based in Barcelona, Sébastien found a city that matched both his personal and visual rhythm. What began as a short visit turned into a permanent move, drawn by the light, the queer community, and the Mediterranean warmth that naturally complements his shooting style.
Clean Lines, Quiet Intensity
Sébastien’s photographs are often stripped of distraction. Faces are frequently obscured, allowing the viewer to focus on shape, shadow, and feeling rather than identity. “Clean, intentional, minimal, sexy yet meaningful, suggestive yet poetic.”
Aesthetic as Intention
That description doubles as both an aesthetic statement and a personal reflection. Sébastien describes himself as reserved and hypersensitive, qualities that surface clearly in his work. Though he may be quiet in person, his photography speaks openly, if wordlessly. Over time, his work has grown sharper and more sensual, but the core obsessions remain. “The obsessions haven’t changed, though: the clean lines, the faces covered, round butts…”
Inside LES CHAISES
LES CHAISES, French for The Chairs, is Sébastien’s most ambitious project to date. The book brings together 123 images featuring 21 models, each paired with a different chair. “I photographed 21 models, each with a different chair, thus combining my fascination with the male body with my passion for design and chairs more specifically,” he explains.
Where Bodies and Objects Converse
What interested him was the sculptural dialogue between object and body. “I was interested in the sculptural aspect of both, how the rigidity of the object complements the flexibility of the body, and how the combination of both becomes an entirely unique form.”
The process was extensive. He began shooting in February of last year, adjusted direction after the first sessions, and ultimately completed more than 20 photo shoots. Finding the chairs alone became its own project, whether they were sourced from his home, restored finds, secondhand discoveries, or even the street. “Each chair was carefully assigned to a specific model for specific reasons. It had to resonate somehow.”
Three Images, Countless Decisions
Selecting just three images from the book for Gayety was no easy task. “The comparison is accurate!” Sébastien says, likening it to picking a favorite child. “I tried to be practical about it, but there was a lot of overthinking.”
One image, now the book’s cover, anchors the selection. Another standout image features polished chrome meeting skin, chosen almost instinctively. “I found this chrome and leather chair on a second-hand website just a few days after I had decided I had enough material for the book,” he recalls. “But it was so stunning that I had to have it and use it for one last photoshoot.”
Process Over Product
Unlike singular shoots, the book demanded structure and planning. “For the book, I set a clear objective and a time limit for myself at the beginning of 2024,” Sébastien explains. Still, within that framework, he allowed space for spontaneity. “While I was there to direct the models during the photoshoot, I also tried to give them enough freedom […] in order for a genuine interaction to happen.”
That balance, preparation paired with openness, defines both his process and the final work.
Looking Forward
When asked what he hopes people take away from his work, Sébastien answers with honesty and humor. “10 seconds or more of fresh air, a beauty break from all the ugliness… joy, inspiration, an erection?” Above all, his images offer pause and a moment of clarity and beauty in a loud visual world.
Want to see the good stuff?
We’ve published more of Sébastien’s work — including the shots too spicy for this site — over on our Substack.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE
LES CHAISES will be released on May 15, alongside an exhibition at Candy Darling, a queer bar and exhibition space in Barcelona.
