The untouched, real beauty of female celebrities revealed in Pirelli's 2017 Calendar

Launched today in Paris, the latest theme is entitled Emotional to emphasise how the idea behind his photos was to create a calendar "not around perfect bodies, but on sensitivity and emotion, stripping down to the very soul of the sitters, who this become more nude than naked".

As Lindbergh further explains: "In a time when women are represented in the media and everywhere else, as ambassadors of perfection and youth, I thought it was important to remind everyone that there is a different beauty, more real and truthful and not manipulated by commercial or any other interests, a beauty which speaks about individuality, courage to be yourself and your own private sensibility."

In order to convey his idea of natural beauty and femininity, Lindbergh has portrayed 14 internationally renowned actresses, including Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Rooney Mara, Helen Mirren, Julianne Moore, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlotte Rampling, Lea Seydoux, Uma Thurman, Alicia Vikander, Kate Winslet, Robin Wright and Zhang Ziyi.

"My aim was to portray women in a different way." says Lindbergh. "And I did it by calling in actresses who’ve played an important role in my life, getting as close as possible to them to take my photos. As an artist, I feel I’m responsible for freeing women from the idea of eternal youth and perfection. The ideal of perfect beauty promoted by society is something that simply can’t be attained."

The photos were taken between May and June of this year in five different locations: Berlin, Los Angeles, New York, London and the beach at Le Touquet in France. The result is a calendar consisting of 40 images – with portraits and environments – made not just in the studio, but also in a number of city corners and open-air sets. Discover more at pirelli.com.

Via Creative Boom submission | All images courtesy of Pirelli