# Poignant Femme Portraits The Barbara Cole 'Painted Ladies' Series Show Off Soft Femininity By Emily Evans | Published 2011-06-06 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbara-cole-painted-ladies References: [mymodernmet](http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/beautiful-pictures-that-look) & [barbaracole](http://barbaracole.com/bcIndex.php) The ability for paintings to appear lifelike is certainly a testament to the artistic talent of the artist, and likewise, these Barbara Cole 'Painted Ladies' pieces also exude immense artistic talent. These pictures capture [soft, feminine beauty](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contemporary-femininity) and grace in a way that mimics the timeless nature of paintings. One of the most astounding revelations of the Barbara Cole 'Painted Ladies' photo series is how it was shot -- using entirely [Polaroid](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/polaroid-600-malibu-barbie-instant-film-camera) film. Popular website My Modern Metropolis quotes Cole in saying, "I fell in love with Polaroid film sometime late in 1987. I had been experimenting with the Polaroid Spectra camera and Tungsten light and I loved the mood that its warm colours and creamy palette evoked." These photographs are definitely ever-so-charming. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.9/10 - Popularity: 67% | Activity: 73% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Lifelike Paintings:** Exploring the ability of paintings to appear lifelike, creating opportunities for artists to push the boundaries of realism in their work. - **Soft Femininity:** Capturing soft, feminine beauty and grace in artwork, presenting opportunities for artists to explore and challenge societal views on femininity. - **Polaroid Photography:** Reviving the use of Polaroid film in photography, offering opportunities for photographers to experiment with unique and nostalgic aesthetics. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Art:** The art industry can benefit from the trend of lifelike paintings and exploring soft femininity in artwork, providing new opportunities for artists to attract and engage audiences. - **Photography:** The photography industry can embrace the resurgence of Polaroid film in photography, offering photographers a chance to capture unique and vintage-inspired visuals. - **Fashion:** The fashion industry can draw inspiration from the concept of soft femininity to create clothing designs and marketing campaigns that celebrate grace and beauty. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Retro Doll-Themed Cameras](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbie-film-camera.md) - [Glamorous Artful Bronze Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweet-jane.md) - [Retro Doll-inspired Cameras](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/polaroid-600-malibu-barbie-instant-film-camera.md) - [AI-Generated Poetic Photo Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emilio-alarcn.md) - [Reimagined Puzzled Artful Paintings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portrait-of-a-woman-in-a-hat.md) - [Unretouched Photography Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dove-reimagine-beauty.md) - [Hand-Painted Watercolor Prints](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/emma-webster.md) - [Glass Beaded Intricate Artworks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/painting-exhibition.md) - [Barbie Paint Collabs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/backdrop-x-barbie.md)