Photo: 'Mumie' by Jozef Danyi
time ago I saw (or rather, read) an interesting exercise: from a painting (in this case a painting flamenco, Jan Van Eyck) is trying a written interpretation. No that would be usual, ie one from the pictorial point of view. It was not a task for art students, but a way of exercising the imagination and writing. From that perspective. The last thing that mattered was to demonstrate breadth of knowledge of techniques, styles and other topics related to painting. A playful and free exercise. More complex. I think. In the end, what was this exercise is to call me much attention and more than once tried something similar. Of course not published, and later I left in oblivion. But today I come to think of it. Well actually not exactly today, but a few days ago, when I came across the photo illustrating this post. Putting a little aside the title the author gave him the picture I was very impressed, and provoke a strange feeling, obviously, giving me foot the ramblings. For one minute she thought the photo model, attempted (and succeeded) to transmit. At the same time remember that old belief that certain social groups feared (perhaps still is subject) to be photographed, then is convinced that photography steals a part of the soul of the sitter. Her expression, which I see as fearful, reminded me. While not necessarily the fear I think I see it had its origin (always in my vagary) in the belief that being photographed will steal your soul.
not know what was the intent of the photographer, what did he have on the model, which asked him to reflect. What did I have clear is that she is far from showing the image almost lifeless, like a zombie, a mummy. At least a mummy as the cinema and museums have accustomed us to see and believe they are. What the model conveys, in my head, is fear. She worries a lot. But the look and the click of a photographer, but the intrusive eye when looking at the photograph who goes beyond the mere artistic contemplation and dares to see her. Those eyes, so beautiful and expressive, seemed to scream: Please . Do not look. Do not try to peer behind me look, look no cross that fine line between the artistic work of my being . His attitude is one of fear and, obviously, self-protection: the way how it crossed his arms over his chest in a feeble attempt to protect, as if to keep themselves safe from all external element. And so with your eyes and body language can transmit is opposite to what one would suppose should provoke a picture of a mummy. And so, instead of being afraid ... feel the fear of it, we see very clearly his weakness and helplessness, to the point that almost embarrassed look, almost end up feeling, as I said at the beginning of this paragraph, intruders that violate the fragile intimacy of a woman helpless and fearful.
****
"I do not care what the false step make you fall on my body "Marguerite Yourcenar 
0 comments:
Post a Comment