Walter Bird - Eves without leaves - 1940

Eves Without Leaves is a vintage photographic art book originally published in 1940 in the United Kingdom. Rather than a novel or written story, it is a curated collection of photogravure studies focusing on classic nude female photography.

The book features the work of three of the most prominent British glamour and portrait photographers of the era: Walter Bird, John Everard, and Roye (the professional pseudonym of Horace Narbeth).

It consists of high-quality photogravure plates depicting famous European artistic and theatrical models of the time.The Style: The title Eves Without Leaves is a playful, biblical reference to Eve in the Garden of Eden before the fall (without fig leaves). The photography emphasizes artistic composition, lighting, and form rather than mere provocation. A contemporary 1942 review noted that the book highlights a "partnership between artist and model" to achieve genuine artistic perception.Introduction: The original edition includes a formal foreword written by the English dramatist and novelist Reginald Arkell.

Due to its popularity, a sequel titled More Eves Without Leaves was published shortly after in 1941. Today, first-edition copies of these books are considered rare, collectible items of historical mid-century British photography.

"Here is a gallery of beautiful girlhood - 47 artistic studies of models photographed by the well known camera artists. Much time, patience and technical skill have gone to the creation of the pictures. Many of the studies included in this series have been seen at the London Salon and other exhibits." Good hardback copy with spine strenghtened.