Customer Reviews

Paolo Roversi: Nudi

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Elegant but cold.Innovative but repetetive.I've been waiting for this book to get published for two years.Finally,I am holding it in my hands.Somehow I can't help but feeling dissapointed.Roversi was obviously trying to show the fragile,soft and very intimate side of his young models.However,all of them are presented in exactly the same manner.Yes, Roversi's idea of creating transparent,soft almost ghost-like image of a female is nice,and yes it works beautifully with tall,thin boy -like women.But by the end of the book i could not help but feeling that I have been looking at the collection of female shapes,which look like pattern because of the identical technique and composition. Don't let me put you off,even if this book won't blow your mind it's still a wonderful example of taste and style.However ,those of you who have seen Roversi's work for italian Vogue will know that this extremely tallented artist is capable of much more.

While looking through the pages of Nudi, one is often reminded of nudes in an artist's sketchbook. Roversi's images are closer to drawing, borrowing heavily from an artist's pencil, rather than straightforward photography. Reducing the final image to a creamy-white, the strength of the photographs rely on what little remains: the hair - so much more noticeable due to its contrast against the overexposed subjects; the expressiveness of the eyes; and, most striking - the dark lines that outline the naked body. The viewer is relentlessly forced to concentrate on the natural shape of the women's bodies that come to life through the simplicity of this technique. That these women are models is irrelevant; they are not photographed to represent fashion. The women are photographed with the conviction of showing a model as Woman, and not the opposite. There are critics who complain about Roversi's style, while also pointing out the redundancy of the images in this book. What Roversi has done with Nudi is use the book to define a style of photographing that will indelibly link him to his images - it is his signature. A signature style is what makes an artist unique; it defines them, while setting them apart from other photographers and above all, it is one of the most difficult challenges in the creation of noteworthy photography. I applaud Roversi for his aesthetic convictions. By reducing the presence of his female subjects to highlight the subtle contrast between light and dark, Roversi leaves us to concentrate on the beautiful minimalism of line, shape, and expression. In the end, the book's minimalism allows us to see so much more.

I ordered this book two years ago after seeing a preview of it in a British magazine. It has at long last been published and it was well worth the wait. Paolo Roversi masterfully captures a perfect mix of sensuality and innocence with these portraits, which have a wonderful sketch-like quality. Roversi's technique places the emphasis on the face and hair, including pubic, while washing out the rest of the body to give his subjects an ethereal, ghostly quality. The list of models reads like a who's who of the current fashion runway set, including Kate Moss, Milla Jovovich, Amber Valletta, Shalom Harlow, Trish Goff, Stella Tennant, Guinevere Van Seenus, Kristen McMenamy, Michelle Hicks, Angela Lindvall and Karen Elson. Thus we have women who made a name for themselves by wearing clothes presented in ultimate contrast with astonishing results. Roversi and his models should be proud of what they have accomplished with "Nudi." This is a beautiful book.

Paolo Roversi is a master photographer and this monograph of work shows why. His magical portraits of famous models more familiar to us from the pages of Vogue extends to us the progression of photography. Roversi clevely use photographic techniques that result in lush, translucent images that are attractive and senuous.Creamy Pale, almost washed out black and white pictures with soft tones and gossamer texture. He has captured an incredible intimacy that reveals to the viewer the sheer beauty of human form, naked. This Master Italian photographer's resultant work is immative of, and reminds us of The great Italian Rennaisance Masters' sketches and drawings but that in no way diminishes the sheer beauty of the work. The images in their light, almost washed out form, work wonderfully. The models gaze at us with a conniving innocence, there is no background to clutter the image, just simplistic, yet emotively powerful posing. The poses contrast with the texture of the pictures, no attempt at "classical" figurative posing, yet the models still reveal the body as a beautiful form. Roversi's work is internationally famous especially his beautiful editorial work for Italian Vogue, and his advertising campaigns for various fashion houses and he has worked with many of these models before. Here in this collection we are not looking at fashion but art and it is interesting to note that fashion models today are lending themselves to more and more art inspired projects. Roversi has a distinct approach to photography and this monograph is another salutation to a man whose influence in the art world transcends his own discipline. This is a book to buy and treasure.

I waited almost two years for this book to come out. I purchased it as a christmas present to myself, at first look I was gravely disappointed. I held out to write a review because I wasn't sure if it was the wait I didn't like or the book. Well two months later I can tell you it was the book. The theme gets really old really quick. After you look at one photo there isn't much sense in turning the page, beacuse the next photo looks the exact same! An uninterested model standing nude with the camera set on over expose. Big Deal. I would like to add that it is a beautifully bound book. I wish some of my other books were as nicely assembled. I'm going to assume that is were most of the cost comes from.

This is an excellent collection by one of the worlds finest Fashion Photographers. The almost white on white technique is as fascinating as the well know subjects.
The presentation of the book is superior and as a figurative gallery photographer I can say that I will refer to it and get ideas from it for many years. Solid Five stars. I think you will agree.

This is exactly kind of the book I want for my library. I have heard many times about Paolo Roversi so this book is a confirmation of his high mentioned name. Regardless of critics from other people about Nudi : over-simplicity, over exposed, and any other "correct technical" terms BUT for me this book shows a very strong concept and process of photography. It still intricted my mind how he actually did the "pencil drawing" affects. The simplicity and plainess of the book, the model poses, uniformity of sephia like pics are also a plus. Not many photographers dare to publish such "simplicity and plainess".

Paolo Roversi is a master photographer and this monograph of work shows why. His magical portraits of famous models more familiar to us from the pages of Vogue extends to us the progression of photography. Roversi clevely use photographic techniques that result in lush, translucent images that are attractive and senuous.Creamy Pale, almost washed out black and white pictures with soft tones and gossamer texture. He has captured an incredible intimacy that reveals to the viewer the sheer beauty of human form, naked. This Master Italian photographer's resultant work is immative of, and reminds us of The great Italian Rennaisance Masters' sketches and drawings but that in no way diminishes the sheer beauty of the work. The images in their light, almost washed out form, work wonderfully. The models gaze at us with a conniving innocence, there is no background to clutter the image, just simplistic, yet emotively powerful posing. The poses contrast with the texture of the pictures, no attempt at "classical" figurative posing, yet the models still reveal the body as a beautiful form. Roversi's work is internationally famous especially his beautiful editorial work for Italian Vogue, and his advertising campaigns for various fashion houses and he has worked with many of these models before. Here in this collection we are not looking at fashion but art and it is interesting to note that fashion models today are lending themselves to more and more art inspired projects. Roversi has a distinct approach to photography and this monograph is another salutation to a man whose influence in the art world transcends his own discipline. This is a book to buy and treasure.

Not much of a theme (aside from nude models). You get the sense he more wanted to publish a book of many of the current top models(Fall of 1999). And not so in making a photographic statement.

The photos are also developed in a very pale (annoying) form. I guess to give the illusion of art? Too bad really. Photography doesn't need to be about art. Just interesting. And interesting this book is. Beautiful current top models.. who can you go wrong? Whether it's Devon Aoki thinking she's the Venus. Audrey Marnay and her over-exaggerated scared expression. Milla looking like she just woke up. Kristen Owen and her show stealing "out of the shower" look. Or Tasha Tilberg just standing there. Where Paolo lacks a theme, the models improvise, some better than others. But all beautiful. Over forty pages! Well over 30 different models! Worth checking out if you like fashion.

On the face of it, very simple pictures; think more, doing this technically is not easy. It is also hard to take them in an artistic manner, with nothing to pose with - no clothes, color, background, shoes, decorations, nothing. An admirable attempt on artist expression on simplistic view.