Helmut Newton: Pola Woman (Schirmer Art Books on Art, Photography & Erotics) [Paperback]

Helmut Newton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Schirmer Art Books on Art, Photography & Erotics | Publication Date: June 30, 2004

What a sketch is for the painter is a Polaroid for the photographer, namely the first formulation of a concept, the raw material of the imagination, as it were. When Helmut Newton published a selection of his Polaroids in Pola Woman in 1992, the subculture called it a stroke of genius. It was the first time that the master let people look directly over his shoulder. We became witnesses to the magic and often intense process by which erotic fantasies become finished images; preliminary stages of a perfectly styled Newton photograph. It is remarkable, if not astonishing, that even this "raw material" possesses very original qualities and a charm of its own.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Helmut Newton was born in Berlin in 1920. He has lived in Singapore, Australia, London, and Paris and has photographed extensively for Australian, French, Italian and American Vogue, as well as for Elle, Marie Claire, Playboy, Vanity Fair and Stern. He has published numerous books and his work has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world. He currently lives and works in Monte Carlo.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Schirmer/Mosel Verlag Gmbh (June 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3888147492
• ISBN-13: 978-3888147494
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #306,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars newton's masterful polaroids, November 30, 2002

By 

BOYWAY (new york city) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Helmut Newton: Pola Woman (Schirmer Art Books on Art, Photography & Erotics) (Paperback)

This well produced book offers that rare opportunity for us to see some of the "studies' that leads up to the defining newton final print. The graphic compositions and the icy allure of his statuesque heroine is unmistakable. Polawoman covers both newton's personal work as well as many of his fashion masterpieces, particularly from the daring pages of the late '70's french vogue. A fascinating book for any Newton fan with many of the polaroids having witty and revealing notes scribbled over them.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Helmut Newton - what can you say?, April 2, 2007

By 

A. Davis "asdav" (Berkshires) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Helmut Newton: Pola Woman (Schirmer Art Books on Art, Photography & Erotics) (Paperback)

The man virtually invented modern high-class fashion erotica. If there is another photographer who did it better, earlier, please let me know so I can acquire that person's work as well. The book in question here features reproductions of Polaroids from throughout Newton's career that served as "sketches" for some of his finished work. Some of them have text magic-markered on the margins, and many are accompanied by some sort of charming reminiscence by the photographer. They show how much work went into some of Newton's iconic photos, and conversely, how he could take advantage of the moment and get a unique shot when fortunate enough.

What a life! Many a man would love to have lived Helmut Newton's life, but I doubt many would be suave enough to pull it off. You walk away from this book with the impression that Newton was dedicated to his craft, but at the same time managed to have more fun than many people will ever even read about.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars helmut newton's Polawoman, November 23, 2008

By 

Jean-pierre Pepin - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Helmut Newton: Pola Woman (Schirmer Art Books on Art, Photography & Erotics) (Paperback)

Great book offering a different angle on the work of Helmut Newton. This selection of his polaroids over 3 decades give an insight on the making of his provocative photographs. But the polas have also a beauty of their own, some of them displaying an authentic aesthetic quality.
Jean-Pierre Pepin, Montreal