Post on 23-Dec-2014
description
Kehinde Wiley
Empowerment Through Portraiture
Napoleon Crossing the Alps – Jacques-Louis David 1805
Ice-T after Napoleon on his Imperial Throne by Ingres 1806
The Three Graces
• Greek mythology
• Daughters of Zeus
• Personification of charm and beauty
• Beauty, Mirth, Good Cheer
Raphael - 1503
Kehinde Wiley – Power in Portraiture
Historically, portraits have been used as a way of showing off a person’s wealth and power. In Europe, especially during the Renaissance, kings, princes, and aristocrats would hire artists to paint them in their finest clothing. The poses were often proud and heroic to emphasize their wealth and power.Kehinde Wiley’s portraits deal with issues of power by putting African American men in the poses of famous paintings.
Describe a time, or an event in your life, when you felt powerful.
Describe a time, or an event when you felt powerless.
Who are some people who have power in our society?
What about their clothing or appearance shows their power?
Kehinde Wiley – Power in Portraiture
Imagine that your portrait is being painted to immortalize you for future generations.
What clothing would you wear? What would this clothing say about you? What pose would you be in and what would the pose signify? What personal objects or “props” would you have with you? Why these objects?