David Lynch and Isabella Rosellini

Helmut Newton, master of erotic fashion photography, and his 394 photographs from the exotic photo book, SUMO, are the focus of The Helmut Newton Foundation’s show, SUMO.

Helmut Newton - Bergstrom in Paris

On the 10th anniversary of the publication, the original photo book SUMO is way beyond what people refer to as ‘coffee table’ in size, scope, and collector frenzy cost.

Helmut Newton with Benedikt Taschen and SUMO

The book, rarely seen outside of well endowed collector’s clinging clutches, is 464 pages deep, and replete with many otherwise never published photographs by this intensely stylistic and erotic photography master.

Helmut Newton - They Are Coming - detail

To accompany this show, and to open up marketing to those of us with less turgid bank accounts, a smaller version of the original publication will be available.

While predominantly dealing with hetero interactions, there are elements of blending in many of Newton’s works.

Helmut Newton Self Portrait in High Heels

His women are often direct and confrontational unlike so many fashion model representations during the same periods in fashion photography.

Brigitte Nielsen 1988

Often they are seductively self secure, perhaps past the point of being smugly confident of their power over the intended target of the viewer.

Ornella Muti - Como - 1986

These women are not the shrinking violet mannequins of other photographers.

They Are Coming (of a diptych with the same women clothed)

Sometimes though, they may appear as possible victims, not only of the whims of fashion moguls and couture dominating masters, but as objects of another sort of subjugating subject matter.

Catherine Deneuve - nouvel observateur - Paris 1983

Sometimes these stunning women are rendered as icon seeming objects, restrained yet defiant.

Tied-Up Torso - Ramatuelle - 1980

Sometimes as objects of erotic objectification.

Villa d'Este - Lake Como, Italy 1975

Sometimes as mere prop objects for self adornment of the photographic artist.

Self Portrait with Wife June and Models 1981

Helmut Newton’s striking photographs are well presented in these books, and we can expect an equally stunning show at the Helmut Newton Foundation
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