Pirelli – The Calendar. 50 Years And More

Taschen Hohenzollernring 53, 50672 Köln, www.taschen.com

In recent years once a year I noticed small press in the mainstreammedia about the famous „Pirelli Calendar“, from what I understood some sort of erotic calendar with famous female models photograped by top photographers for garages that never made it to the garages. I never saw one in my life. So why not take the opportunity and have a look at the 50 anniversary book and see them all at once and find out what this fuss is all about. First a introduction in the history of the Pirelli family and the birth and story of the calendar over the years by Philippe Daverio.

At the end there is also the „Art Directors Story“ interviews with Derek Forsyth and Martyn Walsh (also translations in italian, german and french). For the rest there is hunderts photos of light appareleld women (and also very few men). The representation has changed over the decades and with the different photograpers, it is a mixture of exotic, erotic and art. Depending on what calender you look at highlight one of the three. With the amount of photos it is clear that you have excellent creative shots that stand out as well as photos of women at a beach and everything in between. Some of the models: Alessandra Ambrosio, Gisele Bündchen, Naomi Campbell, Laetitia Casta, Cindy Crawford, Penélope Cruz, Milla Jovovich, Heidi Klum, Angela Lindvall, Sophia Loren and Kate Moss. Some of the photograpers: Richard Avedon, Peter Beard, Patrick Demarchelier, Nick Knight, Karl Lagerfeld, Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, Annie Leibovitz, Peter Lindbergh, Sarah Moon, Helmut Newton and Mario Testino. You also geht ‚behind the scenes‘ unpublished photos quasi from backstage. Is the calendar sexist? For sure some will say it is, others will heavily argue against it. Lets call it erotic art? Looking at the new calender that was just releases for 2016 you see mostly photos of dressed strong women, so maybe that is the new direction? Whatever, when you browse thru the plus 550 pages you feel more and more like you are looking at someone elses familyphotobook. It is nice to see all the beautiful locations and models, but it is a different world and it feels alien. Make sure you have a strong coffetable, since the book (30x30x5 cm) is ca. 5 kg heavy and has an nice embossed hardcover. 49,99 Euro (dolf)
Isbn 978-3836551755

[Trust # 176 February 2016]