Pirelli calendar loses the lipstick

FOR decades the Pirelli calendar has been known for its exclusivity, its glamour and its nudity. But this year’s calendar, unveiled on Tuesday, is different. German photographer Peter Lindbergh captured 14 actresses in black and white with bare faces and unkempt hair. The actresses were virtually make-up-free for the shoot.

“In a time when women are represented in the media and everywhere else as ambassadors of perfection and youth, I thought it was important to remind everyone that there is a different beauty, which speaks about individuality, courage to be yourself and your own private sensibility,” Lindbergh said.

Lindbergh’s approach continues the break that began with last year’s calendar, in which Annie Leibovitz photographed women such as Serena Williams, Amy Schumer and Yoko Ono. At the time, Leibovitz said she wanted the images “to show women exactly as they are, without artifice.”

The no make-up movement has been gaining considerable attention in recent years, especially after singer Alicia Keys penned an essay about why she’s going bare-faced. Turning the Pirelli calendar into a statement about society ensures the product remains culturally relevant – especially given its extremely limited availability.

The movement away from highly sexualised images shows “undoubtedly a cultural shift, a real opening up and a big change,” said Helen Mirren.

Lindbergh titled the calendar “Emotional,” because he wanted “to create a calendar not around perfect bodies, but on sensitivity of emotion.”

This year’s calendar includes portraits of actresses Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara, Mirren, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlotte Rampling, Lea Seydoux, Uma Thurman, Alicia Vikander, Kate Winslet, Robin Wright and Zhang Ziyi. Lindbergh also photographed a Russian political theory professor, Anastasia Ignatova. – Washington Post