Semo Gaby (1 results)

Condition: Very good. 12" x 9". 41 unbound leaves with 38 original B&W photographs (ranging from 2¾" x 4" to 8" x 5 ") adhered to cover and rectos + artist's 1934 report card (in German) laid in. Very good: a bit of soiling to front; three photos detached and a few loose; a few very discreet stains. This is a mock-up for an unpublished photo book full of artistic images of women in varying states of undress, sybaritic and seductive pose. We were unable to discover anything about the artist, Gabriele ("Gaby") Semo, beyond her laid-in (middling) report card from a Swiss boarding school in 1934. This book boasts an ironic title, as the photographs evoke themes of exhibitionism, sexual intimacy and the perception of the female form. Women appear in provocative displays on the street, in parks and in bed, often partly nude, in lesbian encounters, and one blatantly flaunting to the chagrin of an onlooking male. The artist uses mirrors, nitrogen tanks, stairs and sprinklers to elicit a sensual tone, and a few models are seen repeatedly, including a striking African American woman. An unknown artist's plans for a provocative photo book, certainly worthy of study or display.