Lately I have been thinking about Identities in new ways; perhaps splitting it up into two different groupings. Upon further reflection, the images within the series seem to fall within two different facets- Identity and Persona. For now, thinking about all of these ideas together still makes sense to me. But I can already tell that with further exploration (just like with self reflection) these ideas will shift, combine, and separate- they will become something else. I quite like that these images are taking on different meaning for me as I explore the series… There is some sort of connection in that.
“Gregor, the Romantic”, 2023.
The idea of Persona vs. Identity came up while reworking and further exploring the image to the left, “Gregor, the Romantic”. Originally assembled in 2022 as an analog collage, I updated this collage using a a digitally altered image of Gustav Courbet’s “Mère Grégoire” (image below).
Gustav Courbet’s “Mère Grégoire”, 1855-59
A couple of interesting notes about this piece (Courbet’s, not mine):
1) In painting “common, everyday people”, Courbet earned himself the nickname, “The Apostle of Ugliness” (Band name anyone?) Sadly, the judgment and scorn that Courbet was making a commentary about still feels pervasive. As does the anger that follows such commentary. Courbet took brush to canvas. Nowadays this plays out via the internet.
2) I love that we know the inspiration for this painting! Courbet was inspired in one way or another by the French musician Pierre-Jean Béranger. His popular song (which you can listen to here) is what is described in various polite terms as being quite scandalous in its sexy nature. Whether Courbet was inspired to write about the character, Madame Grégoire mentioned in Béranger’s poem/song or it was a political commentary on how that song and subject matter were received is not clear, but both seem to have played into the portrait.
Isn’t it interesting that by simply exchanging out Courbet’s torso for this man’s, one can alter the entire narrative? Gender alone seems to hold a different meaning altogether about ideas of sex, romance, love. Just sayin’….
