Only those who’re sent the annual limited edition “art item” released by the Italian tire company will really get to examine the 12 studio portraits by Annie Leibovitz. (The calendar is not available to buy.)

Unusually, it has women renowned for their accomplishments rather than their physical attractiveness. Their being rather than their form.

These are: tennis champion Serena Williams; actress Yao Chen; singer Patti Smith; comedian Amy Schumer; Yoko Ono; investor Mellody Hobson; writer Fran Lebowitz; philanthropist and art patron Agnes Gund and her granddaughter; ‘Selma’ director Ava DuVernay; artist Shirin Neshat; producer Kathleen Kennedy; blogger and actress Tavi Gevinson; model Natalia Vodianova and one of her young children.

The Pirelli calendar has stayed true to form since 1964, never deviating from the fashion of unclothed women. What lies behind its decision? A new respect for the female being (rather than her body)?

Some say the world is in a moment of female pridefulness, so much so that sex perhaps no longer sells. (After all, ‘Playboy’ recently abandoned nudity.)

The first sounds more plausible than the second.

Sex is on sale everywhere, especially online.

But it’s no longer considered a good idea to represent a woman as nothing but a body.