Lateral Undulation

'The serpent shows the way to hidden things'

Carl G. Jung

Jonathans Abraão

Famed fashion photographer Richard Avedon wasn't the first person to shoot a nude model with a snake, but is 1981 shot of model Nastassja Kinski is certainly the most famous, and the most iconic.  Avedon, know for pushing boundaries with his visuals, didn't exactly plan on pushing the limits with his famed shot, but a set of circumstance came together to create the iconic shot.

Miss Piggy

In the 1980's, 1990's and beyond, the shot became one of the most referenced fashion images, although except for a bracelet on Kinski's wrist, there really wasn't much fashion at all.  That lack of fashion might be why the image became one of the most reproduced posters in history, becoming a staple on the walls of college dorm rooms, and the bedrooms of many, both male and female fans of Kinski's beauty and form. 

Andrew Matarazzo

Kinski and Avedon originally got together for a two-hour long fashion themed photoshoot.  The shoot was commissioned by US Vogue as a fashion editorial by Diana Freeland.  After what has been described as a rather 'humdrum' first half, resulting in a collection of conventional fashion images, the mood and energy on the set wasn't exactly electric. 

Alice Cooper

'According to Vogue stylist Polly Mellen who worked on the shoot, it was Kinski herself who suggested that the addition of a snake would provide an extra punch to the images. This observation came to be something of an understatement, as a huge boa constrictor was brought to the set to lay upon the naked 21-year-old starlet.  Reportedly, after hours of attempting to coax the snake into the ideal positions it finally snaked its way up the young actress’ body with Avedon patiently on hand to capture the split-second perfection of the serpent flicking its tongue into Kinski’s remarkably poised ear.'

Artland Magazine

Nastassja Kinski

'Kinski was completely calm and in control and professional, even as she lay on cold concrete for hours with the snake hooked around her feet.'

Brendan Fraser

Christopher Atkins

The image also became one of the most copied, by celebrities and models.  I mean what other photo can you say was replicated by Alice Cooper, Brendan Fraser and Miss  Piggy.  I think for obvious reasons, some of my favorites are from former teel idol Christopher Atkins.  I remember seeing a shot in an old copy of US Magazine when I was a kid, and have found at least three different shots from the shoot.  Love to know if there were more, as I'm guessing hundreds of shots were taken during the shoot.

Nyle Dimarco

Although the story of Adam and Eve is not present in every variation, the themes of temptation and lust certainly are.  It's interesting that in the Avedon images, the goal was to make Kinski the temptress, totally in control, luring in the snake and not the other way around.

Rubert Manuel