BOOKS
Uwe Ommer (photogr.) / Calixthe Beyala (text).
Uwe Ommer. Black Ladies. [FR-ENG-DEU]
Köln, Taschen, 1995.
€ 29.50
Bound, hardcover with original dustjacket, 180pp., 23.5x30.5cm., richly illustr. in col., in very good condition. ISBN: 9783822886748.
This photographic volume presents a visual celebration of African women through the lens of Uwe Ommer. The work consists of portrait studies that emphasize individuality, presence, and physical expression, combining elements of fashion photography, portraiture, and artistic nude studies. Accompanied by text from Calixthe Beyala, the book situates the imagery within a broader cultural and aesthetic framework, highlighting identity, beauty, and representation. The project functions both as a visual homage and as a reflection on the diversity and strength of feminine form and presence. The volume is structured as a large-format photographic monograph composed primarily of portrait images of African women, presented in a variety of stylistic settings ranging from studio compositions to more naturalistic environments. The photographs explore themes of identity, sensuality, dignity, and corporeality, often emphasizing contrast between skin tones, textures, and color elements such as fabrics and accessories. The sequencing of images creates a visual narrative rather than a strictly chronological or documentary structure, allowing the viewer to engage with recurring motifs such as posture, gaze, and symbolic staging. The accompanying text by Calixthe Beyala provides literary and cultural framing, adding interpretative layers related to femininity, representation, and cultural identity. The work functions as a hybrid between art photography, ethnographic portraiture, and aesthetic exploration of the human body, with particular emphasis on visual composition and the expressive potential of photographic form. Uwe Ommer is a German-born photographer known for his work in fashion, advertising, and artistic photography. After establishing his career in Paris, he gained international recognition for both commercial and personal photographic projects. His work often focuses on the human figure and portraiture, combining technical precision with strong visual stylization.










