Important Men Looking Away
A surprising discovery in an art gallery in London
Well, THAT could be the headline to many different articles one could write… but today I’m actually going to recount a recent visit I made to an art gallery. My dear friend Elizabeth has implored me to continually make sure I re-inspire myself, as that energy will feed into my work. As she always gives great advice, I have taken myself on various artist’s dates around the city.
One of my favourite places in London is the National Portrait Gallery. It always prompts me to considerer my work as a photographer from a different angle. I distinctly remember walking across Trafalgar Square wide-eyed-and-newly-arrived in London from my native Stockholm, marvelling at the fact that I now lived in this magical city. That was seventeen years ago. Since, I have trained myself in photography (thank you Youtube), started a business and amassed a portfolio of experiences, friends and photographs I am so proud of.
Viewing painted portraits is always fascinating as a portrait photographer. Some I admire for the technique, some are intriguing because of the character portrayed, some captivate me because of the colours, light and shadow used. I can’t help but notice the pose the artist (or subject?) has chosen. When I take photographs of people, I capture a variety of poses and expressions in a varied gallery, but in a painting they literally had to pick one pose, one expression.
One thing struck me as I walked through the halls of this proud gallery: there were an awful lot of paintings of men looking away. That is, their gaze was not on us, the viewer, but somewhere off to the side, sometimes even downward.
I can’t help but wonder: if you pay an artist to paint your portrait, you sit for it for manyhours, why would you choose not to look at the viewer? Most, if not all, of the portraits I am asked to create is about eye contact - it makes you come across as approachable, professional and friendly. So much of our personality sits in the eyes.
What was the intended experience with these portraits of important-men-looking-away? Do we experience them as more important because they have the audacity not to look at us? Perhaps the painting is more about their profession or social standing than we require in our age of “personal brands”. As I am in the business of communication and storytelling; this to me is incredibly fascinating.
My visit also got me musing about the relationship between the artist and what they are commissioned to deliver. My own clients pay me to capture a portrait of them that is flattering, that communicates the right things and ultimately brings them more business, better relationships, more trust from their clients and more commercial opportunities. I imagine it wasn't so different for these artists.
I am mesmerised by the colours, the outfit, the lighting and her expression.
Portrait artist Louise Jopling, an ardent supporter of votes for women. One day as she was sitting for this portrait she forgot to hold her tranquil expression, resulting in what she called 'the defiant look' on her face.
As I am planning my own portrait shoot this year, here's an interesting view on how the artist approach their self portrait.
I feel connected to portrait painters though our mediums are very different. They inspire me to push the boundaries of portraiture in my own work. This gallery visit has ignited a fire in my belly of exciting possibilities. Now I must ask: would you choose to have a portrait photograph of yourself “looking away”?
