Goliath Goes the Distance

Germany's Goliath is fast replacing Taschen as the number one erotic art book publishing company. Not only are they releasing books at record numbers, but are releasing beautiful books of such high quality with such great artists, it's unbelievable. This week we look at Peter Gorman, author of naked in Apartment 7 and naked rooms. Next week we uncover Dave Naz, erotic master and author of Lust Circus and Panties. We wrap up our Goliath hard-on with Charles Gatewood, whose Badlands and newly released Messy Girls are both out on the German powerhouse.

Peter Gorman

Obviously, like many straight guys, I'm influenced by images I see in the media, of perfect women with perfect bodies and perfect hair and perfect teeth. Some are a little too perfect, others are just perfect enough. All you have to do is have the TV on for a few minutes, and you're sure to see at least one example of this phenomenon.

But lest you brand me a curly-tailed oinker, let me say that my appreciation of women doesn't end there. Oh no. There are so many ways in which a woman can be attractive, both in body and in mind. For instance, even though I may have a physical type of woman I tend to admire, a sexy girl is a sexy girl, and can easily transcend this standard.

Everywhere you look, there are beautiful girls. I see at least one a day on my way to work. Never fails. It's this notion of beautiful women in everyday circumstances and scenery that Peter Gorman captures so well in his new book, Naked Rooms, in which "ordinary" (and yet sometimes stunningly alluring) women are depicted in their apartments.

Part of Gorman's inspiration here is to contradict overwrought notions of beauty that are often found in erotic images today. Gorman says the tousled, teased, "perfect" types found on many a magazine cover and Cinemax late night movie doesn't interest him in the least.

And while I may disagree with him slightly on this point, one thing we do agree on is how often beauty can be just as easily found in that girl at the coffee shop or the bar or the diner, absent of prepackaged trappings of attractiveness. These girls don't need an airbrush or a makeup artist to look amazing —beauty emanates from their every pore in a way that is neither contrived nor self-conscious.

I feel like emphasizing the fact that these are "normal" girls. But why does that sound so unflattering? It certainly isn't meant to be; sometimes, the only thing separating these girls from glamour porn girls in terms of mainstream interpretations of beauty is an unshaved pussy.

In fact, something that strikes me about the girls in Naked Rooms is that, rather than glossy, almost cartoonishly hot girls like Carmen Elektra or Tera Patrick, these women are like that really sexy girl in your own circle of friends —gorgeous and just out of reach, rather than only visible through the Hubble telescope.

And in terms of beauty, the only difference between these two types is the way they're photographed, and Gorman does a great job at presenting these ladies as kind of girls-next-door. Or rather, maddeningly- hot- girls- next- door- who- you'd- trade- your- front- teeth- to- fuck.

One reason why Gorman's images here are so brilliant is his insistence on making them look natural and spontaneous. Before going to each model's apartment, he asked that they not pick up around the place, and leave it in its natural condition.

The effect that these elements bring is almost like… I dunno… like instead of presenting hot chicks in some unnaturally pristine state, it's like you instead see them as they would be after a few weeks of dating them. You know, no candlelit boudoir. Rather, hairbrush on the floor atop two weeks' worth of wardrobe. And yet, still imminently beautiful.

Next week:
Dave Naz & Charles Gatewood continue Goliath's reign of art porn.