Helmut Newton
1920 - 2004Ariele (Holding Naked Bars), c. 1982
One of Newton's favourite models, Ariele was another 'big nude' that embodied the Newtonian aesthetics of women as not just 'girls' but free, independent, mature beings without doubts, no weaknesses...
One of Newton's favourite models, Ariele was another "big nude" that embodied the Newtonian aesthetics of women as not just "girls" but free, independent, mature beings without doubts, no weaknesses and with sexual experience that is immediately detected from their images.
"Holding Naked Bars" derives its power from Ariele's monumentally beautiful body and fierce look of absolute confidence. Her pose complements the shape of the (Monte Carlo) mountains behind her and so expresses a noble dignity and an enduring immovability that is strangely seductive. The way she is holding the bars reflects her control of the sexual tension in the encounter. Her self-controlled serenity is channeled and captured to convey intriguing big ideas through nudity. In this way of narrating, Newton once again demonstrates the power of the image over the word.
"Holding Naked Bars" derives its power from Ariele's monumentally beautiful body and fierce look of absolute confidence. Her pose complements the shape of the (Monte Carlo) mountains behind her and so expresses a noble dignity and an enduring immovability that is strangely seductive. The way she is holding the bars reflects her control of the sexual tension in the encounter. Her self-controlled serenity is channeled and captured to convey intriguing big ideas through nudity. In this way of narrating, Newton once again demonstrates the power of the image over the word.