As any burlesque performer will tell you, the art of striptease is about more than just getting naked. It’s about drama and glamor and imagination. That’s just what Brooklyn-based photographer Van Sarki suggests in his series, Burlesque Compére, which places nude and costumed photos of burlesque stars (many of whom fans of the form are sure to recognize) side by side, juxtaposing the vulnerability of nakedness with the flamboyance of costumes. Click through for some of our favorite images from the set, which we discovered via Lost at E Minor, visit Sarki’s website to see more of his work, and consider backing his Kickstarter to publish the photos as a book.
Photo credit: Van Sarki
Photo credit: Van Sarki
Photo credit: Van Sarki
Photo credit: Van Sarki
Photo credit: Van Sarki
Photo credit: Van Sarki
Photo credit: Van Sarki
Photo credit: Van Sarki
Photo credit: Van Sarki
Photo credit: Van Sarki