People of status always dominated in portraits, not only because of their elevated social rank but also because it cost a fortune to commission a painting.
Nowadays, there are millions of cheaper and faster ways to immortalize one’s image, making the traditional oil painting an acquired choice instead of being the only option. Just like the medium, the subjects of portraits have also changed: royalty and nobles don’t have as much importance as they used to have, and they’ve slowly been exchanged for a modern version of people of status — celebrities.
French Instagram artist Kyès digitally recreates classical paintings by substituting people that were important back in the day with people who are considered to be important in pop culture nowadays.
In short, this substitution works, probably because the classical painting style subconsciously elevates the subject of the painting onto a higher plane than just simply mundane.
A modern analogy would be a “star,” which also signifies this sort of specialness. In other words, classical paintings and celebrities are a match made in heaven. Check it out and judge for yourselves!
And of course the King of Pop found his place in the gallery alongside of Beyonce, Snoop Dog, Madonna and many more…
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EYES ON: Patrice Murciano / Manuel Díaz Domingo / Ard Gelinck / Nicole Miller / LaMarina Art / Reagan Corbett / David Ngwerume / DUANE SHOOTS TOYS / Jorge Ávila / Laurence M White / Bradley Hart / Pablo Lobato / D43 / Simone Dell’Aglio / Mockstars / Jerome Bourgeot / Georgia Duhh / Guillaume Nicollet / Yann Dalon / MIDICHI / DDA/ Marcus White
“making portrait paintings a somewhat unnecessary medium” You have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. Digital yes, I do that too. But the proper portrait in oil is way more valuable. Not only because of the medium used and the skills but also because of the normous emotional value it has. MJ knew exactly why he loved paintings in oil so much and why it emotionally touched him deeply. Painting a portrait is not just copying a face in another jacket, it actually is knowing the person, do research and get in touch if possible. It has way way more value than you realise. It is conveying exactly that what the person portrayed forgot about her/himself.
I’d like to see Janet Jackson, Rihanna & Sis who doesn’t like to show her face. Also, Elvis, James Brown & Tupac.