In his portrait series 'The New New World,' photographer Mark Abouzeid compares and contrasts classic portraits with modern-day recreations done through photography.
Some of the comparative images in this series look strikingly similar, with almost the exact same clothes and positioning, but most of the images show stark differences, especially in facial features that have gradually changed over time. Another comparison being made between the paintings and photographs is the artistic technique. It is amazing to note how lifelike the classical portrait paintings are, coming very close to the photographic recreations in texture and shading.
MArk Abouzeid breathes new life into the art of classic portraits, creating an interesting study comparing past profiles and artistic techniques with the more advanced and technological-based techniques used today.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Classic-modern Contrasts
- There is an opportunity to explore the gap between classical art and modern art through contrasting styles and artistic techniques.
- Artistic Technique Evolution
- There is an opportunity to explore the evolution of artistic techniques over time with reference to the change in facial features, texture and shading in portraits.
- Reinterpreting Classic Art
- There is an opportunity to experiment with contemporary strategies such as photography, digital art, and social media to reinterpret the classics to a modern audience.
Sectors Adopting This
- Fine Arts
- Fine art institutions and galleries can use this concept as an opportunity to exhibit classic art alongside similar modern-day recreations to create compelling stories about the evolution of art.
- Photography
- Professional photographers can offer modern-day recreations to clients who are willing to pay for upscale portraits that blend classical styles with contemporary techniques.
- Museums
- Museum curators can take advantage of this idea to put together exhibitions that compare classical paintings with contemporary photography to show how art has evolved over time.
