As Kate Middleton's official portrait is unveiled for the world to see, critics have been making less than nice judgments about it.
Despite the Duchess of Cambridge's approval of the painting, claiming “I thought it was brilliant,” several art critics and fans of the princess did not see eye to eye with her view. Some of the main comments spectators noticed were that the portrait made her look older and less alive. Art critic Waldemar Januszczak called the art piece “pretty ordinary … He made her look older than she is and her eyes don’t sparkle in the way that they do and there’s something rather dour about the face.” Artist Paul Emsley, who was responsible for the piece, used thin layers of oil and glazes on canvas to produce the final product and tried to create character in her face by adding contour and dimples.
For those who would like to get a glimpse of Kate Middleton's official portrait, it is hung in London's National Portrait Gallery.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Controversial Portraits
- The controversy surrounding Kate Middleton's official portrait reveals a trend in critical public reaction to formal portraiture.
- Age and Appearance
- The public reception of Middleton's portrait illustrates a trend in focus on the age and appearance of public figures, especially when depicted in formal artwork.
- Oil Paintings
- The use of oil and glaze techniques in creating Middleton's portrait highlights a trend in traditional oil paintings in a digital age, with potential opportunities for innovation in modern mediums.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Art and Design
- The controversy surrounding Middleton's portrait presents an opportunity for artists to challenge traditional portraiture styles and create new and innovative ways of depicting public figures.
- Entertainment and Media
- The public scrutiny of Middleton's appearance in her official portrait serves as a reminder to the entertainment and media industries to focus on issues other than appearance and age when portraying public figures.
- Technology and Innovation
- The use of traditional oil and glaze techniques in Middleton's portrait highlights innovation opportunities for incorporating old techniques with new technologies, particularly in digital mediums.
