The famous Pirelli Calendar is an annual publication born in 1964, which quickly became a cult object appreciated by collectors. Its photographers have not only photographed the most famous fashion icons, but have also managed to interpret the social and cultural changes that have occurred during its almost 60-year history.
He Pirelli Calendar prepare a new version. The one which will celebrate neither more nor less its 50th edition, as well as its 60th anniversary, recalling that the emblematic almanac has stopped publishing on several occasions due to different events, including the Covid-19 pandemic.
Timeless (Eternal), as the title will be Pirelli Calendar 2024 , which, for the first time, will have a black African artist behind the lens. This is the Ghanaian prince Gyasi, who is also the youngest photographer to direct an edition. He is only 28 years old.
All the portraits were taken between London and Ghana last July. And the choice of the people featured in it was made by Gyasi, based on the impact that these people had on his life, his thoughts and his emotions: “Some of them are friends and I had the “It felt like working as a family because of the connection we had in the decor,” said the graphic designer.
Thus he photographs many well-known faces from different fields. From models like Naomi Campbell to former footballers like Marcel Desailly, without forgetting others like writers and even kings. Thus, one of the protagonists will be His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, king of the Ashanti kingdom (current Ghana), who will celebrate in 2024 the 25th anniversary of his domination.
cultural icon
How did a calendar for girls become a cultural phenomenon? It was the beginning of the sixties, when the world was experiencing an era of changes that were taking shape on the basis of social protests, a flourishing counterculture and a sexual revolution, which spoke of freedom, rights and freedom. ‘expression.
In this context, a promising photographer, Robert Freeman, personal friend of the Beatles, was commissioned to create “a beautiful calendar”, for which he was given carte blanche. Thus, and with the aim of carrying out a joyful and informal photo shoot that captures the essence of the era, he chose the most representative models of the moment and took them to the white sand beaches that everyone dreamed of visit once in your life. .
This is how the first Pirelli calendar in history was born. The year? 1964. His first image featured English model Jane Lumb on a beach in Majorca, seeking to make the viewer forget the despondency of January. Mission which, without a doubt, was accomplished.
This concept of a calendar was not new. The British company Leyland had launched the Leyland Ladies calendar in 1930. Meanwhile, the brake manufacturer Mintex reproduced the idea in 1956. And calendars with “girls” were a proven marketing tool in the automobile industry, a additional gift for customers which could accompany the usual details in the form of a miniature tire.
The originality of Pirelli’s idea, however, was a calendar that could be displayed in front of customers without any problems. Not only that, it was relegated to hanging in rooms or locker rooms used exclusively by men.
A sort of “high-end version” that would proudly adorn the wall of any business. Idea that we owe to Derek Forsyth, head of advertising for the Pirelli delegation in the United Kingdom. It was he who opted for the path of good taste and art for a proposal which, at the same time, was to serve as prestigious advertising for the brand.
Well, for his part, Freeman had that sought-after touch of elegance. The British photographer had marked the era in the Sunday Times, carrying on the cover black and white portraits of personalities like Russian President Nikita Khrushchev or jazz musicians like John Coltrane and Dizzy Gillespie.
At this time he was also in charge of the cover image for the Beatles’ second album. This cover of the 1963 album With the Beatles, which is now an icon, where the four members of the group are depicted, in natural light, wearing black clothes with high collars and surrounded by a shadow.
With the order for the 1964 Pirelli Calendar under his arm, Freeman abandoned black and white to switch to color. And this change was glorious. He chose the beaches of Majorca as a setting to imbue his images with sun and tanned skin under pristine blue skies and on the white sands of the Balearic Islands. One of the work’s most striking portraits shows a woman in a white bikini jumping over sea waves. And when they’re not wearing two-piece swimsuits, models Sonny Drane and Jane Lumb wear shorts or t-shirts. Or a simple towel.
No image recreates the spirit and beauty of the 1964 Pirelli calendar better than this one from May, featuring German model Sonny Drane, wearing a man’s shirt on the beach.
Capturing the essence
Over the years, also known as The Cal, its focus has changed, along with greater social awareness regarding the role of women. She becomes more and more an active subject of the story, a character in her own right, and no longer an object of admiration or desire as she was at the beginning of the calendar. Thus, the nudes were remembered.
For example, the 2013 edition was based on the street art, favelas and culture of Rio de Janeiro, all brought to life by war photographer Steve McCurry, the one who immortalized the penetrating eyes of a young Afghan girl appeared in 1985 on the cover of National Geographic.
Another significant change occurred in 2015 when, For the first time, an XL model was included. Candice Huffine weighed 200 pounds and was 6 feet tall, and she said her presence on the calendar was a sign that things were changing.
In 2017, under the title Emotional, the calendar It showed celebrities aged around 40, in an effort to protest the social pressure to control the appearance of women to appear younger. Actresses Penélope Cruz, Kate Winslet and Nicole Kidman participated, among others.
Post-pandemic
After being suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Pirelli Calendar returned in its 2022 edition by Canadian singer Bryan Adams. Yes, you read that right, the creator of hits like “Heaven” and “Everything I Do” is also a renowned photographer and was responsible for photographing the select stars of this release.
Titled On the Road, the 2022 edition featured representatives from the world of music and cinema, such as Cher, Grimes, Jennifer Hudson, Normani, Rita Ora, Bohan Phoenix, Iggy Pop, St. Vincent and Kali Uchis, represented in different streets. from Los Angeles.
The 2023 Pirelli calendar, meanwhile, was titled “Love Letters to the Muse.” Muses who, under the camera of the famous photographer Emma Summerton, have been interpreted by some of the most prestigious models in the world. Among them, Cara Delevingne, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski.
Organized in London and New York, the photo sessions focused on the muses, imaginary and archetypal characters who marked Summerton during his life, from writers to artists or activists, not forgetting his own mother.
With all this history, visions, people and celebrities under its belt, the iconic Pirelli Calendar is now gearing up to celebrate in style. We’ll just have to wait until November to see what it will surprise us.
Source: Latercera
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
