by Jon Lackman | 17 January 2008 | Photography
From Le Monde:
It’s a stunning photograph that has caused much ink to be spilled since it was published January 3rd on the cover of the Nouvel Observateur. On the occasion of the centenary of Simone de Beauvoir’s birth, the magazine chose an image of the writer, nude, seen from behind, in the middle of fixing her hair. A little known photo, aesthetic to be sure, but also highly salable … Certain feminists didn’t appreciate seeing the author of The Second Sex reduced to a pin-up showing her buttocks. Choisir la cause des femmes, an association created by Simone de Beauvoir, denounced the issue’s “obviously commercial aspect.” Numerous readers mailed tart comments to the weekly while debate raged on blogs.
At the Nouvel Observateur, deputy editorial director Michel Labro says he doesn’t understand the animosity: “This image nicely illustrates our issue which shows her subversive, nonconformist side. There’s nothing gratuitous about it. If we wanted to prostitute ourselves, we wouldn’t do an issue on Simone de Beauvoir!” Except that the magazine has fueled critique by retouching the image in such a way as to trim her figure. “Let’s not get carried away, we didn’t give her a face lift! We toned down the contrasts a bit which were odd around the legs,” Mr. Labro retorts. Inside the magazine, the same photo didn’t receive the same treatment.
See also Philippe De Jonckheere (via ARHV).
