The 2016 Pirelli Calendar by Annie Leibovitz Starring Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer arrives at the Trainwreck Australian premiere at Event Cinemas George Street on July 20, 2015, in Sydney, Australia.

How stunning are these first look images of Pirelli’s 2016 calendar?

Leibovitz spoke with warmth about Amy’s shoot, which features the comedian sitting in nude trousers, sipping a takeaway cup of coffee, “as if she didn’t get the memo saying she could keep her clothes on”.

The 2016 Pirelli calendar is here and it’s a whole different kind of celebration of women, than it’s been since 1964, when the Italian tire company launched its highly coveted annual who’s who of powerhouse models and photographers.

“Every single day we photographed, I was more empowered”, Leibovitz said of the strong casting.

“This calendar is so completely different”, Leibovitz said in a video about the production.

“They suggested the idea of photographing distinguished women”.

The internet being what it is, though, the most talked about photos are of comedian Amy Schumer and tennis star Serena Williams, who both appear semi-nude in powerful portraits that aren’t designed for the titillation of men (although they may cause it). “I wanted to the pictures to show the women as they are, with no pretense”.

Not all the names are household ones: Also featured in the calendar are UNHCR Goodwill ambassador Yao Chen; film producer Kathleen Kennedy; art patron Agnes Gund, who was shot with her granddaughter Sadie Rain Hope-Gund; president of Ariel Investments Mellody Hobson; film director Ava DuVernay; blogger Tavi Gevinson, and the visual artist Shirin Neshat.

Though a majority of the women are fully clothed, Williams and Schumer both stripped down to their underwear. “It was a simple concept”, Leibovitz explained.

The complete calendar will be unveiled tonight in London. “They said we want to do a departure”. Some played by their own rules, she noted.