Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker is a 2021 documentary that details the life and career of the gay artist Joseph Christian Leyendecker who was popular for his illustrations, namely The Arrow Collar Man in the early 1900s. This movie won Best Short Documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival the year of its release. It is currently streaming on Paramount Plus and is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video, The Roku Channel, and YouTube with premium subscriptions. Coded has a run time of 29 minutes and is recommended for viewers 14 years of age and older.
This documentary begins with transgender activist Jari Jones discussing the impact of being featured in Calvin Klein’s 2020 Pride campaign. Joneses’ public embrace of her trans identity for a major brand is then juxtaposed with Leyendecker’s existence as a closeted gay man. Through narration by Neil Patrick Harris as well as commentary from a biographer, an art historian, and an advertising expert, viewers learn about Leyendecker’s Parisian art education that he brings to New York. Leyendecker’s arrival in America follows the trial of Oscar Wilde that continues to stifle queer expression. Since he does not want to put himself at risk, Leyendecker alludes to his homosexuality in his artwork. Many of his illustrations focus on men’s bodies, and there is often a physical closeness between men that can be seen as homoerotic. When creating advertisements for Arrow shirts, Leyendecker uses his partner, Charles Beach, as his inspiration for the Arrow Collar Man. Eventually, Leyendecker and Beach settle into a privileged lifestyle together when demand for Leyendecker’s work surges during the Roaring ‘20s. Leyendecker’s ability to capture the decadence of this decade sets him apart from his fellow artists. But as the 1920s come to a close, there is a societal effort to limit the excesses of the past. For Leyendecker, this reversal of values signals the end of his artistic career when he completes his final Saturday Evening Post in 1942. Leyendecker and Beach remain a couple until Leyendecker’s sudden death from a heart attack in 1951. Upon his death, Leyendecker left instructions for Beach to destroy his remaining correspondence and paintings. This final demand indicates that Leyendecker was unable to envision a time when there would be a greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ people as talked about by Jones.
Given that this is a short film, Coded provides an excellent starting point for those interested in learning about Leyendecker, a figure who is largely unknown. Viewers can look forward to analysis of his artwork that expounds on the queer elements in his illustrations. Along with this artistic review, the documentary shows more recent examples of queer-coded media like Subaru’s ads intended for the Lesbian community. These ads remind viewers yet again of the importance of positive representation, especially for unrepresented groups. Although this film mentions Leyendecker’s sexuality as one of the reasons for the end of his career, this topic could have been elaborated on to give further insight into the historical events that caused this decline. This documentary could have also been improved by giving a better sense of closure to the film overall. Right before the credits roll, viewers are informed that sketches and paintings were discovered in Leyendecker’s former studio in 1961. But the significance of these findings is not elaborated on. As a whole, Coded gives a useful study into Leyendecker’s life in addition to LGBTQ+ representation.
Media can be a form of community interaction in the way that individuals can remain informed as to what is happening within their community. If are questioning your identity, would like to discuss coming out, or need local LGBTQ+ resources, please contact the National LGBT Help Center through the support services listed below.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
LGBT National Coming Out Support Hotline: 1-888-688-5428 (1-888-OUT-LGBT)
LGBT National Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-7743 (1-800-246-PRIDE)
LGBT National Senior Hotline: 1-888-234-7243
You can also reach out online at www.LGBThotline.org/chat
