Posted on by susie

Portraits Reinterpreted

>> Famed still life photographer Peter Lippmann has collaborated with Christian Louboutin a number of times on campaigns, exploiting his still life set-up expertise.  I found the Flemish-style still lifes with shoes strewn over tables with goblets, grapes and skulls impressive in their execution and mimicry of those types of paintings.  It was also interesting to see that the shoe was not purposely made to be the centre of attention in the arrangements of objects.  Here, we have another Lippmann x Louboutin collaboration, with a series of portraits inspired by iconic and notably diverse pieces of art, all meant to celebrate different facets of femininity.  Each A/W 11-12 Louboutin shoe or accesory worked into the portrait also ties in with the character of the painting as well as the woman depicted. 

Re-enactment of famous artworks in a fashion editorial context isn't anything new of course but there's a certain distinct lushness that Lippmann brings to the portraits, and it is clear that he is interested in capturing the light and certain characteristics of the original paintings in his photographs as opposed to creating straight forward replicas.  There is also the surreal aspect of seeing a Louboutin shoe in say an 15th century Renaissance portrait or on Whistler's mother's lap (though that painting is well up there in the 'Most Photoshopped' chart) but it's quite interesting to see when more traditionally symbolic or allegorical items such as a cross or a skull has been replaced by those famous red-sole shoes – something that the legions of women who worship at the alter of Louboutin won't have a problem with. 

Benoist Marie Guillermine née Laville-Leroulx,portrait d'une négresse,Louvre Marie-Guilleme Benoit Р"Portrait d’une Negresse"

Pictured with the nappa leather and patent Balda bootie. 

 

Benoist 6 copie

Y-painting1-popup Jean Baptiste-Camille Corot – "Portrait of a Girl"

Pictured with the Halte black patent shoe. 

Carot 10 copie

The Penitent Magdalen, 1638-43, by Georges de la TourGeorges de la Tour – "Magdalene and the Flame"

Pictured with the Puck boot.

De La Tour 5 copie

ElizabethAustria Francois Clouet – "Elizabeth of Austria"

Pictured with the Madame au Pigalili gold spiked platform shoe and Catalina sequined clutch

Louboutin-Clouet-HD-RVB

1007328Jean-Marc Nattier – "Marquise D'Antin"

Pictured with the Artemis shoulder feathered bag.

Louboutin-Nattier-HD RVB

Francisco de Zurbaran-768745Francisco De Zurbaran – "Saint Dorothy"

Pictured with the 8 Mignons purple sandals with a specchio fabric detailing on the instep. 

 

Louboutin-Zurbaran-1

690px-whistler-mother_lgJames McNeil Whistler -  "Whistler's Mother"

Pictured with the Tootsie roccia leather ankle boot with laser etched pony panelling and geoemtric studded piping.  

Whistler 7 copie
Credits : Photography Peter Lippmann, Concept Jerome Gonford, Styling Catherine Gorne, Prop Styling Annie Bodin, Hair/Make-Up Jean Pierre Canavate, Casting Olivier Duperrin, Art Direction Jeffrey Blunden, Models Trissan Polas, Sterenn Nogues, Karom Kelly lippmann, Lia Catreux, Francoise de Stael and Karen Assayag, Retouching Patrick Toulomond and Lillian Joy, Printers Fot Paris & Print Model)

52 Replies to “Portraits Reinterpreted”

  9. not bad at all… not bad… the portraits have been beautifully reenacted with much attention to detail… I’m not totally convinced about the placing of the shoes though… but the handbag on a shoulder and shoe on a table worked… shoes on the fruit and all those who suddenly had shoes in their laps? not working for me

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  13. This is a very bad idea. Some of the photos are poorly done – St. Dorothy for example. Maybe it would work if it was more kitschy/fun. This is downright tasteless.

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  26. Magdelene and the flame is the best one, it’s kind of creepy. Some of them look a bit awkward but maybe that’s the point behind the concept, to have a jarring sense of it rather than produce an image thats seamless?

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  31. One thing I do love more than shoes is paintings and I am absolutely besotted with this campaign!
    My favourite is the interpretation of the Jean-Marc Nattier as that it is of one of my favourite periods in art history, but the Whistler’s Mother shot is just genius.
    Thank you so very much for sharing, cheered up my evening no end.
    Florrie x

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  33. I think this is hideous and unoriginal. Taking beautiful art and “reinventing” it as a vehicle for empty consumerism. What is so praiseworthy about that?

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  34. Flavia: if you read my post, i did acknowledge that this isn’t in fact new or original… I just said it was well-done… also, these aren’t really campaign images so they’re not really vehicles of commerce as the images are only meant for limited print lookbooks or online news story runs…
    I also think Lippmann might also be admitting the slight ludicracy of the concept of putting a Louboutin shoe in these portraits… the placement suggests that there is a sense that he is poking fun which is apt for a brand like Louboutin (judging from their website…)
    It’s not to everyone’s taste, I might add but the literal campness of it all is what grabs me… I certainly don’t see it as some sort of lofty art-fashion hybrid….

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  42. I just love Christian Louboutin. He’s my absolute favourite designer of all time and this is just genius.

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  48. So tune in to hear this ‘friendly’ conversation that covers topics including Fox News’ ‘fair and balanced’ reporting, the demographic makeup of the Tea Party and Sarah Palin’s potential 2012 run for office.

    Reply

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