There's nothing quite as sexy or natural as feminine beauty. Since cameras were invented, women have posed in the nude for the camera's eye to capture provocative poses, and sometimes to insinuate kinky desires. In the late 1800s and the early Twentieth Century, seductive portraiture focused on real women: not sculpted by surgery, lifted by silicone, or touched up by the tricks of modern photography. Her face was that of any woman you'd see on the streets; her body not unlike the average housewife. Women of the times stretched out before you as they were, curves slight or full, breasts small or weighted by their large size, yet ever beautiful, still captivating today. In "Erotic Flashback", Berkowitz sets out to create a similar timeless, erotic woman, much like the portraits of yesteryear. He dares to tear down our modern notions of beauty, and to replace these ideas with a grandeur that flaunts the more interesting aspects of the feminine form. While blatantly erotic, his work is an attempt to bring out a more truthful sensuality found in character and intelligence borne through the expressions of his subjects. Later his models often admit the experience of being photographed has instilled in them a sense of sexual acceptance, empowerment. Shunning the sterile style of modernist art wherein nudes are commonly depicted as faceless forms against a blank background, Berkowitz embraces the maximalist ideal. His lush work is reminiscent of late 19th century to early 20th century Storyville-style portraiture, depicting rich detail, lavish sets, opulent accessories, and backgrounds. As a world traveler currently residing near NYC's garment district, Berkowitz regularly scours nearby shops for discount upholstery fabrics and wholesale costume jewelry. He also employs his tremendous collection of accessories, including Turkish, Persian, and North African carpets, Indian and Thai silks to adorn both subject and sets. Once a painter, sculptor, and performance artist, Berkowitz formerly focused primarily on religious themes. His work can be found in museum collections all across the US. After decades of heavily conceptual and hard to access artwork, his nudes seem immediately fresh, liberating, and natural. With the simplest equipment: a 4 X 5 camera, a standard portrait lens, and Kodak Tri-X film, he photographs his subjects using natural light augmented, if needed, by studio flashes with a reflector. He personally develops each portrait and every print. Finally, he chooses sepia toning both for a vintage feel, and to create a dreamy, ethereal quality, which intensifies the work. Berkowitz's gaze embraces each woman as though through the eyes of a lover. As a photographer, he approaches every model with the radical attitude that she is perfect exactly as she is. Berkowitz espouses the celebration of natural flaws as grace, embellishing and dressing up slight imperfection, yet creating an erotic perfection in each woman. His art challenges you to look at every interesting woman you see- perhaps on the street, or in the subway to look around hungrily envisioning real, accessible women as exotic, erotic, worthy subjects of fine art. © 2004 Jamie Joy Gatto. All rights reserved Abigail Alexa Alice Amber Anamaria Ariel Cassidy Claudia Chris Christina Christina, II Cordelia Dacia Dara Dyvorah Fallon Iris Jen Jenni Jennah Jesme Jezebel Julie Julie, II Karen Karen, II Kate Katerina Kerry Kim Kristine Laurie Liz Marta Melody Michelle Minxen Monika Phoenix Rachel Rayne Rebecca Reive Robyn Sara Sativa Sirena Stephanie Theda Tiana Tienne Vivienne Vixen Widow Willow Xana Yaya