“The way men are seen in photography, in fashion, and the way that men look at pictures of themselves has changed in recent years. It is a subject that has come into focus: The masculine image, a man's personal style, changing attitudes to the male face and body.”
— Mario Testino
From Rio to London, Cusco to Seville,
Mario Testino
is renowned for his free-spirited chronicles of dress and demeanor. In
SIR
the influential photographer presents
over 300 photographs in his search to define the allure of men
.
Featuring
an essay by Pierre Borhan, an interview with Patrick Kinmonth
, and many previously unpublished works from Testino’s archive of thousands, this book traces the
evolution of male identity over the past three decades
. Costume, tradition, gender play, portraiture, photojournalism, and fashion collide as Testino observes masculinity in all its modern manifestations: through
the dandy and the gentleman, the macho and the fey, the world-famous face to the unknown passerby
Every photograph represents a unique point of view, and a new visual connection between photographer and sitter. With
Josh Hartnett
for
VMAN
(2005), Testino evokes the fall of Helmut Berger in the abyss of Luchino Visconti’s
The Damned
. Studies of
Brad Pitt
,
George Clooney
Jude Law
and
Colin Firth
are as candid as they are curious.
David Beckham
David Bowie
Mick Jagger
Keith Richards
feature for the courage they have taken in redefining male identity. Through a kaleidoscope of guises, these portraits define a period in which men’s changing role, style and appearance has never escaped Testino’s eye and impeccable intuition.