The 7 Best NSFW Coffee Table Books

In honor of International Nude Day. And art.

July 13, 2018 9:00 am
The 7 Best NSFW Coffee Table Books
Thames & Hudson/Amazon

Surprise: It’s International Nude Day this Saturday, July 14th.

Good news is, you don’t have to get us anything! (Except uh, maybe a towel.)

The unofficial holiday supposedly began after New Zealand rugby player Marc Ellis dared people to streak in front of the Prime Minister. Since that early 2000s event, the sans clothes “celebration” has spread to 30 countries — including the good ol’ US of A, where you can, for example, spelunk in the raw within the caverns of Howes Cave, NY this weekend (caveat: you will need to wear shoes).

For those not into naked cave exploration, we offer a private alternative: reading. As in, perusing seven of our favorite NSFW art books.

Cast your inhibitions aside and dive into these erotic (yet tasteful) coffee table reads.

Heimat, Ellen von Unwerth

Heimat
As reimagined by model and famed fashion photographer Ellen von Unwerth, the southern German state of Bavaria is a bevy of beautiful women traipsing through pastures, munching on giant pretzels and potato sack racing (nude, of course). And much lederhosen.

Simply Beauty, Bert Verwelius

Simply Beauty
Dutch photographer Bert Verwelius is best known for his work with the Russian punk agitators Pussy Riot. And he’s the lensman behind this decidedly NSFW photo tome of nude women. Shot in both color and black and white, the book showcases Verwelius’s detailed and artistic work: apparently, he casts, lights, decorates and develops all the pics himself.

 Erica Simone, Nue York: Self-Portraits of a Bare Urban Citizen

Nue York: Self-Portraits of a Bare Urban Citizen
As part of her “never-ending drive to challenge myself, even if it means getting naked in the freezing snow,” photographer Erica Simone decided to experience her new hometown sans accoutrement.

Rankin

#NSFW
If you don’t know the name of British photographer (and Dazed and Confused co-founder) Rankin, you’ve undoubtedly seen his work — he’s shot virtually every celebrity alive, from David Bowie and Mick Jagger to Grimes and Idris Elba. And some even sexier pics : #NSFW collects the best nudes shot over the entirety of his career.

Iman Whitfield, #SENDNUDES

#SENDNUDES
A meme turned artsy photo tome, these are nudes as selected by some of the world’s most well-known erotic and professional photographers. Overseen by fashion film director Iman Whitfield, this is sensuality from a female perspective (and feel free to use that line).

David Lynch, Nudes

David Lynch, Nudes
More than 100 photos (black-and-white and color) of feminine nudes by surrealist director. Sensual? Sure. But also rather abstract and certainly inspired by film noir — lots of shadows, canted close-ups and cigarette smoke here.

Unseen Ratajkowski, Jonathan Leder

Unseen Ratajkowski
32 images of the American starlet that have never been released before, as snapped by Jonathan Leder during a 2012 photoshoot in Woodstock, NY. Another book of sexy Polaroids with the model by Leder is available here.

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