This is a fascinating photoalbum of historical "pornographic" portraits made between 1850 and 1950, all taken from the collection of French author, essayist, and critic Serge Bramly. Far from the smutty snaps we tend to associate with pornography today, these are carefully composed shots that betray the obsessional perfectionism of the professional photographer as much as the voyeur. Expertly lit, theatrically posed (often with elaborate props), and meticulously printed, they have the boldness and formality that signal true works of art. Bramly's accompanying essay explains the social and artistic circumstances under which they were made, making this a valuable find for both the connoisseur and the scholar.
