Sophie stands in an unfinished Brooklyn apartment building. This New York erotic art photograph features the Empire State Building is visible through the window; it is sunset over the Manhattan skyline. Faint hues of greenish-blue contrast with the bright red terry cloth robe draped over her shoulders, revealing her naked body. She portrays perpetual aspiration; the uncompleted trophy apartment, the city out of reach. It is a bittersweet story of, “so much achieved, much more yearned for.”
Her casual mannerisms are unrehearsed. Her unposed stare reveals an engagement in her surroundings, oblivious to being viewed. Although statuesque, her body isn’t postured to accentuate her presence. Her sexuality is apparent in a fairly objective way, as compared to a pinup stance. The robe, a metaphor for modesty, hangs haphazardly open, revealing her nakedness in an unabashed way. She is tranquil. The bright red stands out against the cool, neutral background tones. The red fabric seeks visual dominance but is diminished in importance by its discarded functionality.
The one hundred and two story icon from the year 1931 looms large, despite occupying less than a tenth of this New York erotic art piece. The Art Deco colossus commands attention by virtue of its silhouette and symbolism, including innuendo. Despite the compelling form of the curvaceous nude female body, the distant skyscraper demands equal attention. The world outside the window seems insulated from that of the interior. The pane of glass is noticeably dusty. A greenish glow makes the sky appear alien.
New York is known around the world and many people have a personal connection to the metropolis. Whenever I visit Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, I am inspired by the art I see and the culture of the city. Although I have visited a dozen times before, this image is from my first ever photo project in New York.
