The 2016 Pirelli Calendar

The  first four images from the 2016 Pirelli Calendar, shot by Annie Leibovitz, have been unveiled, along with the month that they will represent. For next year, more than any other, the big reveal has been highly anticipated due to the fact that the publication has undergone something of a change in direction.

Far from the scantily-clad, PVC adorned pin-ups of 2015, for 2016 the images are focused on the women in the photographs rather than their physiques and, as in 2002, 2008 and 2013, there are no nudes.

"For 2016, we did something completely different, but it is still simple. It is a classic set of black-and-white portraits made in the studio," said Leibovitz. "When Pirelli approached me, they said they wanted to make a departure from the past. They suggested the idea of photographing distinguished women. After we agreed on that, the goal was to be very straightforward. I wanted the pictures to show the women exactly as they are, with no pretense."