There's a Deeper Meaning Behind 2017's Star-Studded Pirelli Calendar

While we hate to rush through the holiday season, one thing has us very, very excited for 2017: the newest Pirelli calendar [1], shot by photographer Peter Lindbergh. While each year is always iconic, full of beautiful photos and stylish women, 2017's version includes some of Hollywood's top names, from Kate Winslet to Alicia Vikander and Lupita Nyong'o. Plus the message behind each captivating picture is pretty powerful, too.

A press release reveals that Lindbergh chose to title the series "Emotional," quoting him as saying that rather than highlighting perfect bodies, this year's calendar shows "sensitivity and emotion, stripping down to the very soul of the sitters, who thus become more nude than naked."

"My aim was to portray women in a different way," he said. "And I did it by calling in actresses who've played an important role in my life, getting as close as possible to them to take my photos. As an artist, I feel I'm responsible for freeing women from the idea of eternal youth and perfection. The ideal of perfect beauty promoted by society is something that simply can't be attained.

The results are raw yet gorgeous black-and-white photos [2], and we truly can't wait to snag a copy for ourselves. Scroll through to see a few photos that will be featured, then check out some behind-the-scenes shots.