Femmes: Masterpieces of Erotic Photography (Paperback)

~ Michelle Olley (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A visual feast of the erotic, this impressively produced volume contains 190 photographs (in colour, duotone and black and white) along with appropriate text that (thankfully) resists any heavy breathing. One person's eroticism is another person's pornography, the saying goes, but only the most illiberal are likely to be upset by the sumptuous offerings here. The photographers range from the workaday to the truly inspired, but nearly all are suffused with a heady erotic charge that (in certain cases) virtually leaps off the page. This could make a very tempting present for any sensualists of your acquaintance, particularly if they are aficionados of lingerie, black leather and elegant Sapphic couplings. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

Femmes provides a comprehensive review of erotic photography over the last century. It is a celebration of the female nude; featuring female couples in images that have been selected to highlight the erotic charge when two women are photographed together, between the women themselves, between models and photographer, and between the photograph and the viewer. Erotic photography is now at the forefront of fashion, and Femmes focuses on one of the most exciting and perennially popular subjects, bringing together a collection of the most significant work in this field. This photographic celebration is wonderfully illustrated with 190 outstanding color, duotone, and black-and-white photographs, including those by Michael Childers, Bob Carlos Clarke, Wolfgang Eichler, Nan Goldin, James & James, Pierre et Gilles, Housk Randall, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Trevor Watson.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Running Press (January 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560253665
• ISBN-13: 978-1560253662
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #216,830 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Oh dear!, December 20, 2002

By A Customer

I have to agree with the more negative reviews. The cover is indeed beautiful, but the content, with exceptions such as Brian Peterson's work, tends towards high heeled black boots and the burlesque. It seems as though fetish is now the order of the day, with erotic photographers following this very standardized path like sheep. Trouble is, the photographs tend to depersonalize and objectify, which robs them of their erotic quality. If making a statement about the objectification of women is the purpose of much of this work, well OK, but how many artists should it take to make the point?

A missed opportunity. Take a look at Judy Francesconi's "Visual Sonnets" or, from the 1970's, J. Frederick Smith's "Sappho: The Art of Loving Women" as alternatives. To me, these speak more of a belief in the beauty and emotional closeness of the relationships depicted in their authors' images.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perfection is boring, March 4, 2003

By	Katie (Haslet, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

I scanned through this book the other day at Virgin Records and I have to say, I really did like it! I do agree with some other people, about how some of the women weren't exactly attractive, but... isn't that rather shallow minded???? Not everyone in the entire world is beautiful and there are many people out there with wonderful personalities but not the hottest looks. Now, if you were going to buy an issue of Playboy and not find beautiful women and a pair of syllacone implants, THEN I would complain, that is purely for masturbation, I would assume.
But this is kind of different, don't you think? It goes deeper than masturbation and Playboy bullcrap.
I will say it had a lot of fetish type pictures in it, but, if you're into that kind of thing, this will be great for you!

I have to say I enjoyed it, DESPITE the "unattractive" women in it. But really... doesn't perfection get boring after a while?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Varied, in many dimensions, May 17, 2008

By	wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

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Bring four dozen photographers together, and you have to expect that many visions. Ask four dozen people to describe femininity, and you might get twice as many answers. That's this book: when offered the title "Femmes", what image would you contribute?

Like anyone, I confess to my favorites. I find prettiness optional and beauty almost unavoidable. The woman/women fascinate/s me - not the lingerie or other kink. I warm to affection, even the more physical kinds. I enjoyed Gosbee's work, and Grace's, and Nelson's dotted lady (among others). Hyams's models exhibit a simple but almost superhuman beauty; Karsten's come across with strength, honesty, and a little goofiness. Mahaux's one photo across the fold approaches the models' nudity closely, showing individual uniqueness in narrow detail. It's just me, maybe, but that matters. Even identical twins differ, and I thrive on those differences. Some photographers I find vulgar - many of Roy Stuart's entries dropped below that line. I learn from some, including Sunderland's. Personality matters to me too; that's why Davis's pictures attracted me.

Some of this work appeals to me, some doesn't. There's a lot to enjoy here, and nothing (just barely) that I found offensive. If women's beauty matters to you, go ahead. You're sure to find something you like.

-- wiredweird