A very different post today. Lynn Marie and I would like to solicit some responses from anyone who comes across this blog. The process of lie, lay, laid has sparked in us a curiousity about the experience of folks who had their photos taken, or who have looked at the photos on the blog. The photos weren’t exactly intended as “portraits”. But looking at them together, we are struck by the information they contain. That has us asking bigger questions, some of which I now pose to you, and I’d like to invite you to respond to any of these questions with your wise perspectives. Or you can ask your own questions. We simply request a response if you are so moved. Thanks. Here are some questions, in no particular order:
What constitutes a portrait? How is a portrait different than a caricature? Is any representation of another an object worth attention, worth study? What makes a portrait compelling? Do we see ourselves in portraits? For that matter, have you ever been the subject of a portrait? What do we expect from a portrait?
That should be good for a start. Thanks.
One comment
I like it best when I look at portraits and start developing stories about both the people in the portraits and the artists who made them. Your funny juxtaposition of private and public setting - bed/street remind me how the setting in a portrait effect my experience. The fact that everyone seems so comfortable with the idea makes me imagine interactions you might have had with people in the process of taking these portraits. These photos leave me room to make up stories about who these people are and who you the artists are.
thanks,
Amy