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The Image Revisited

Each one of you has been assigned a famous classical painting. Some of them Expressionist, some Romantic,

Baroque or Renaissance. They all share one thing in common: their social function. Classical painting, in its

historic context, worked as an information/education device for the masses. Like news shows or magazines

today. Paintings were commissioned, most of the time, by the powerful (church and/or state) to establish and

reaffirm spiritual values, reinforce social status and depict political hierarchies in a format considered popular and

timeless.

Using Adobe Photoshop cutouts and image adjustment tools, you have the opportunity to create your own take

on the image you were assigned. Use the Internet, digital photography and printed media as your database. Ask

yourself: "If that painting wouldve be done today, who would be in it? Which icons of power would be represented

in it? How would the background look? Who would be the subjects?"

Take a look at Florians Photoshop montages in contrast with Michelangelo's Last Judgement. (Fig. 1)

The unification of his images, the color composition and the symbolism are only achieved through the conscious

deconstruction of todays visual culture and the intense overuse of layering. In your composition, DONT SETTLE

FOR SIMPLISTIC SOLUTIONS. You will have more than two weeks of class time to work on this. The more

fractured and layered your composition gets, the more levels of visualization it will acquire and the more

interesting it will be.

(Fig. 1)

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Recommended steps

Research your assigned painting. Get familiar with it, understand its historical context, its influence in art

history and history in general.

Visit http://search.it.online.fr/covers/and use the Search Box to find versions of different art pieces.

Sketch possible solutions and multiple options for its reconfiguration.

Collect the pieces. Take photographs of people, places and objects. Collect magazines and newspapers that

contain images you might use

Create a new Web document in Photoshop. Its shortest dimension should not be smaller than 800 px.

Use multiple canvases as sources and to configure certain parts of the final product.

RULE:

At least ONE NON-INTERNET image needs to be included in your final piece. Original photography gives you

control of many situations and printed media has a very painty, interesting, quality to it. The paper, the colors,and textures are things you wont find online.

The Last Supper

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Diego Velzquez, Las Meninas , 1656

Las Meninas

Pablo Picaso, Las Meninas , 1957