David Beckham by Annie Leibovitz. Image courtesy of Phillips / Phillips.com © Annie Leibovitz.

Kathy Adler, curator of ‘David Beckham: The Man’ and former Director of Education at the National Gallery, London, says: “David Beckham is the quintessential modern man, his fame far exceeding that of a sportsman. He is universally recognised, an icon of modern masculinity and a magnet for photographers. His appeal is ubiquitous: he is happy being a gay icon, a teenage idol, a spokesperson for sport, a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He has redefined counter-cultural concepts such as tattooing and brought them into the mainstream. On the body of a classical Adonis, lean, lightly muscled and perfect, he has written a dense and complex biography through the ongoing inking of names, texts (in several languages) and numerals relating to key events and to his all-important family. The photographs constitute a narrative of Beckham’s life and of the position he occupies in contemporary culture. He has constantly challenged notions of masculinity, from the famous sarong-wearing appearance to the many images of him as a devoted husband and father.”