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The photography lovers among others have been waiting for it all the year long: the Pirelli Calendar 2010 has finally been launched with photos taken by the photographer Terry Richardson. This company publishes this exclusive calendar, where the world’s best photographers have been photographing world famous models, since 1964 (with a break between the years 1974 and 1984). The images of the 2010 edition have been labelled as very erotic.
What does “erotic art” exactly mean and what is the difference between nude photography, erotic photography and photography which is pornographic? Which factor really decides to which of these three genres an image belongs? Nude photography is not necessarily erotic. Sometimes it focuses only on some details of the human figure. The lights playing on the skin and the body can produce some astonishing effects and images of great artistic value.
We can, on the other hand, define erotic photography as a kind of photography that is sensual along with allusive images aimed to stimulate our sexual desire. Typically, these pictures do not even show “everything”, the entire nude, but use accessories such as sexy lingerie, tight and almost transparent clothing and also objects that can make you think about a sadomasochistic sexuality. In fact there is a genre called “no nude” erotic photography. It is well known that the images, which only suggest, insinuate, without showing anything explicitly, stimulate our curiosity much more, our desires and the fantasy than the ones, where nothing is hidden.
The erotic genre was already developed in the first part of the XIX Century, soon after the invention of photography and is obviously one of the photographic genres with a long tradition. The first women nude images were mostly “home made” and had an illegal market. Some brothels collected pictures of their prostitutes in catalogues made especially for the clients.
How about the pornographic photography? Generally this definition is used for images that show bodies in a sexual pose or act, clearly, without any double meanings. This word often has a pejorative connotation that may imply lack of artistic quality and its exclusive commercial use, although there are some exceptions. If we look at the works of photographers like Jim French or Robert Mappelthorphe, which many critics defined as openly pornographic, it’s impossible to deny their poetical power and high artistic value. Besides, don’t forget that in judging a photo and evaluating its relevance we should pay attention to the photographer’s ability to express feelings and emotions through an image, in his use of light as well as the composition and the atmosphere.
If you’re passionate about photography, you should visit one of the cradles of this art at least once in your life: Paris. In the magic French capital you can visit museums and galleries, like for example La Maison Européenne de la Photographie, which show all the photography genres. Book a ticket, take a rest and choose the best apartments in Paris and get ready to immerse yourself in the sensuality of the city of lights.
