For this project I aim to re create famous Pre-Raphaelite paintings, giving them a modern and fashion based twist. I have been looking closely at the stories behind some of the Pre-Raphaelite paintings, and I want to explore further the curiosity and obsessions that the brother hood had with the fallen woman. In particular for one of my images I will attempt to re create Holman Hunts, ' The awakening conscience.' I will recreate the subjects in the painting as well as their surroundings with a more modernised editorial feel; I aim to still keep the narrative of the original painting, but adjusting it slightly with the use of symbolic objects. I have been researching the painting itself and have found that there are several symbolic objects around the subjects which add to Hunt’s concepts and narratives behind the painting. I will explore the meanings behind the painting further and look at the similarities in narratives and in turn use modern day objects to symbolise these. For example, in the image there is a hat on the side table which is to suggest that the man could leave the woman at any time, for my images I will use a train ticket or car keys or house keys to symbolise this. For my second image I will either attempt to recreate 'Hylas with a Nymph' by John William Waterhouse or Ophelia 'he will not come again' or 'The Hireling Shepherd.' I want to look closely at the relationships between the subjects in the paintings and their surroundings, and attempt to recreate that through my imagery. In an attempt to give the images an editorial/fashion feel I will use certain lighting techniques and look closely at what they are wearing, and attempt to re create this.
The above images are some Pre- Raphealite images I have been looking at to re create. I particularly like the image on the bottom right 'Boreas' by John William Waterhouse, I feel I could re create this with a fashion purpose in mind.
The image above really caught my eye when I first saw it. Again, it is using a very typical Pre-Raphealite girl, and putting her against a dramatic scene. The original story behind this image comes from a Shakespeare play, which was a common influence for the Pre-Raphealites paintings. The painting is called 'Miranda the Tempest.' Re creating the narrative again with a modern fashion based theme in mind, I would give the image my own narrative in which I feel reflects modern society and it's values on a similar subject. Location wise I think this image is perfect as there are a lot of picturesque scenes on beaches in Sussex which I could use for this image.
In the painting ' the awakening consience' there are objects that are symbolic of the narrative. Similarly I will use similar objects to represent the same narrative. The Pre-Raphealite paintings were reflections of the times, each painting had a historical context behind them, or a personal narrative which had been reflected on to the image. I will attempt to re create this idea of using relative times as a way of creating an image and a narrative.
The artist was William Holman Hunt, and his model was Annie Miller, a fallen woman who was as well as his model, his mistress. I am really interested in the stories behind their paintings, I will take influence from the fact that they used personal issues to inspire their creations as well as taking stories and poems throughout history to inspire them also. For example my photograph will be of the modern day young man and woman in love, and the problems they may face, in particular looking at what society is like now and how this may effect them both.
Analysing the Image
Connotations
- In the image you can see a woman and a man, the woman is at the point of rising from the man's lap who seems to be immersed in singing and playing the piano.
- On the woman's hand, she has a ring on every finger except her wedding finger.
- Woman's reflection in the mirror, of her looking out of a window to what seems to be a garden.
- Cat playing with bird underneath the table
- A dirty glove on the floor, which I assume belongs to the woman
- A black bound book on the floor, also the mans hat
- A piano and music on the right, next to it seems to be tapestry
Denotations
- Her posture suggests she could be attempting to escape her lover, possibly something to do with the title of the painting she's realising her conscience and leaping away from it. The man seems oblivious to this and carries on singing and playing the piano.
- The rings could symbolise that she is a kept woman, who is completely dependant on the man who could leave her at any point. Without him she could have to return to her old ways of prostitution.
- The woman looking out the window could suggest her escaping to another world, looking outside into a pure beautiful garden, symbolic to the relationship between the two.
- The hat on the table could suggest that the man is just visiting and does not intend on staying with her. The black book could be symbolic of the story between the painter and Annie Miller the model. He tried to educate her as she was barely literate and attempted to turn her into a proper lady.
- The cat and the bird in the painting could be symbolic of their relationship, the man being the cat and the woman being the helpless prey.
Brainstorming Ideas
Initial Idea
For this project I want to look at social issues in modern society. I have been looking at what might class as an unconventional family, and looking at how we are still adjusting to the acceptance of the 'unconventional family.' I am possibly thinking about having a family situation such as same sex adoption and having the subjects in front of a very conventional style house, looking what would be classed as a 'normal' family portrait. However, I was thinking of putting text underneath the portrait to shake up the viewers opinion and make them think further into what they are looking at. My idea is to make the portrait look as normal as possible, but the main thing is it will instantly set something off in the viewers mind which would be that it is not 'normal' and the situation is not something you see normally, especially photographed in such a way. I will put text underneath that could mirror what someone with this view could be thinking. My aim is to test an audience and see if they judge the photograph differently now that there is text underneath it saying otherwise.
Second Idea
I was looking at the idea of doing portraits in studios and accompanying them with recordings. I want to look in depth at the conversations between two people, almost like a counselling or therapy session between the subject and me the photographer. I plan on taking portraits and interviewing the subjects over a period of time , recording the conversations we have. The intention behind this is to show an audience a face and see if their first impressions of the person match to the conversations that we have. I think it will be an interesting way of assessing how we judge people in society by how they look. I aim to talk about their lives and key factors in their past that have changed aspects in their current lives, as well as talking about what they aim for in the future and other conversation topics.
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