First Impression

By presenting his models’ flawless, feminine curves in breathtaking scenery, Lukáš Dvořák contrasts their beauty with extraordinary, raw, and wild settings. Through the interplay of nature and nudity, his scenes carry an air of simplicity and pureness. “Lago di Como” and “Aida” were taken in Italy and Portugal respectively, in settings the Czech artist discovered on his travels.

The artist describes his style as simple. As he explained in an interview, “First and foremost, you must respect the beauty of a woman to capture it in its finest, most impressive form. The three elements of lighting, pose, and facial expression…must be dominated by simple, straight lines.” His works betray no hint of the considerable time often required to find the perfect pose. A natural appearance is the most important factor for Dvořák; he presents his photographs in a timeless, pure aesthetic, devoting himself to the female nude with composure and continual innovation. The models have an authentic appearance and display a strong sense of character.

Dvořák limits his colour photography to commissions. As he explains, “I’m not a big fan of colour in portraits. For me, all the extra information that comes along with it seems to make photos void of emotion or character.  Black and whites feel more beautiful and charismatic; they are better storytellers.”

One of the most famous Czech photographers of his generation, Lukáš Dvořák rose to international prominence during the many years he spent working in Milan. Although his specialty is black and white nude photography, he has also shot images for renowned magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, and Cosmopolitan.

Hannah Hör