HISTORICALLY, images of the male form project strength and power, from heroes in the military and politics to titans of industry. But there is very little imagery depicting men simply going about their lives as men. What of the rich and varied moments that make up real life? Are these not fodder for art?

The artist, writer and T contributor Leanne Shapton put together a sort of ‘‘group show’’ for this issue of work by female artists in which the male is muse. Interestingly, most chose to explore the beauty of the everyday, of real men, strangers and husbands. Sam Taylor-Johnson’s image of her husband, here, is striking to me for its utter banality, as that is where the strength and power of it resides: the nothing-much experience of waking up in the marriage bed when one is still murky and sticky with sleep, an unremarkable moment that goes by all the time, everywhere, called out for examination and appreciation. Taylor-Johnson mentions how ‘‘there’s no sense of performance’’ in her husband Aaron’s figure, and yet even from behind ‘‘you still get a strong sense of person.’’ Another image that really moved me is by the photographer Deana Lawson, who felt compelled to bestow a similar tenderness, but on men she doesn’t know. She set out to pay homage to African-American rodeo riders, to regard the physicality of these black men, which despite any perceived strength and power, has lately been shown to be sadly vulnerable. Feeling ‘‘powerless to change the circumstances,’’ she says she wants to ‘‘show love to this male body.’’

Of course, not all art must involve acts of love. But the most compelling images in this issue do seem to be imbued with a sense of yearning: from Bruce Weber’s sexy but also sweet pictures of Michael Fassbender to Colin Dodgson’s endearing pictures of young male models, in which that coltish moment of early manhood is highlighted in all its awkward glory. Even the macho hero gets his due, as the physical courage of the boxer is celebrated in our opening essay.

Here’s to looking at men, in all their complexity.