Playboy Italian Edition October 1976 Classe Del 1965 Work -
Issue: Playboy Edizione Italiana Date: Ottobre 1976 Feature: "Classe del 1965" (Class of 1965)
The October 1976 Italian edition of Playboy featured a controversial pictorial of 11-year-old Eva Ionesco, titled "Classe del 1965," photographed by Jacques Bourboulon. This work, capturing the subject born in 1965, represents a significant example of 1970s European media controversy regarding the depiction of minors, pre-dating similar US media debates. More context on the photographer, Jacques Bourboulon, is available on
The October 1976 issue of the Italian edition of is widely known for featuring Eva Ionesco
on the cover. The phrase "Classe del 1965" (Class of 1965) refers to her birth year, as she was roughly 11 years old at the time of the shoot. Key Details of the October 1976 Italian Issue Cover Model: Eva Ionesco
, who at age 11 became the youngest model to ever appear on a Playboy cover. Photographer: The pictorial was shot by her mother, Irina Ionesco , known for her controversial "baroque-style" photography. playboy italian edition october 1976 classe del 1965 work
Content & Style: The feature included a nude pictorial of Eva on an empty terrace by the sea.
Controversy: The issue caused a significant and lasting scandal due to the age of the model and the provocative nature of the photos. Context of "Classe del 1965"
In Italian, "Classe del [Year]" typically refers to the year a person was born. By identifying Eva as "Classe del 1965," the magazine highlighted that she was part of a young generation, though her inclusion in the magazine remains a highly debated topic in photography and media history. Playboy | MADAME de PIQUE
Profiles (3–4 pages)
Fashion & Style (2 pages)
Music & Culture (2 pages)
Family & Society (2 pages)
Photo-essay: A Day in Their Shoes (4 pages) Issue: Playboy Edizione Italiana Date: Ottobre 1976 Feature:
Closing: Where They Go From Here (1 page)
October 1976 was a pivotal month. The country was recovering from the 1975-76 recession. The Compromesso Storico (Historic Compromise) between the Christian Democrats (DC) and the Italian Communist Party (PCI) was gaining traction. Unemployment hovered around 7%, but youth unemployment (the Classe del 1965) was double that.
Who was the "Classe del 1965"? In 1976, a person born in 1965 was just 11 years old. Therefore, the keyword likely refers to a thematic retrospective or a fictional profile within the magazine. More probably, the October 1976 issue contained a photo-spread or feature article analyzing the future of those born in 1965—the first wave of post-boom Italians who would enter the workforce in the early 1980s. These were the children of the Sessantotto (1968 protests), facing a rigid, industrialized labor market that was beginning to crumble.
The magazine’s editors likely used the “Classe del 1965” as a archetype: the first generation to grow up with color television, disposable income, and the sexual revolution, yet destined for the precariato (precarious work)—a term that would define Italy decades later. Profiles (3–4 pages)
The specific phrase "Classe del 1965" (Class of '65) refers to a generation of women who came of age in the mid-70s. In the October 1976 issue, the visual narrative focused on the aesthetic of the "modern woman"—a blend of naturalism and stylized eroticism.
The primary pictorial associated with this issue features the model Barbara Michele. The shoot is a masterclass in 1970s location photography. Unlike the polished, high-gloss studio lighting often seen in American editions, the Italian approach was more cinematic.
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