Fabrizio del Wrongo writes:

As a kid, Penthouse was my illicit girlie magazine of choice. It was racier than Playboy. More importantly, the girls had a bit of an edge to them. They were knowing and a little mysterious. Like the witchy women beloved of ’70s rock songwriters (whatever happened to that particular archetype?), they seemed capable of putting a spell on you.

The style of the photography was almost painterly, emphasizing mood, moldering tonalities, and atmosphere. Often it encouraged decadent reveries of the type inspired by Gustave Moreau. Editor Bob Guccione launched the publication in England, and during its ’70s heyday it always felt a little European. If Hefner’s girls invited you to play with them, Guccione’s either challenged you to take them on or ignored you altogether, remaining safely behind a screen of voyeuristic fantasy.

These days, you rarely see women treated in poetic terms, especially not in pornography.

Nudity below. Enjoy the weekend.