Italian tire company Pirelli has officially rolled out its 2017 calendar, the 44th edition since it was first launched in 1964. Rooted in the combination of compelling women as photographed by well-regarded photographers, the company this year chose as its focus famous actresses who are highly respected for their skills.
The big screen theme for the cast was in part of reflection of German photographer Peter Lindbergh’s love of cinema, which he has said has influenced his style. Lindbergh challenged the actresses to resist the concept of perfection and in a behind-the-scenes video (below), said, “Why don’t we try to do a calendar with best actresses in the world who have something to say. I approached them and said, I want to do something that is a cry against the terror of perfection and youth.” Photographed in black and white, subjects were encouraged to wear little or no makeup. Lindbergh is not new to the world of Pirelli, and has shot its calendar twice before, for 1996 and 2002.
And while last year’s calendar shot by Annie Leibovitz moved in the direction of shooting a more racially diverse group of women, it appears the calendar has reverted back to form, which is to say shooting a cast of almost all white models.
Included are Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara, Helen Mirren, Julianne Moore, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlotte Rampling, Lea Seydoux, Uma Thurman, Alicia Vikander, Kate Winslet, Robin Wright, and Zhang Ziyi. Anastasia Ignatova, a political theory professor at Moscow State University was also shot, as a special guest.
Images were shot between May and June in five locations: Berlin, Los Angeles, New York, London and the French beach of Le Touquet for a total of forty images, which were shot both in studio or on locations in downtown Los Angeles, Time Square in New York, the Sophiensaele theatre in Berlin, on the beach in Le Touquet, France, among other locations.
For more info visit pirellicalendar.pirelli.com.
