Tribute to Magritte

In Genlux magazine appeared on January 29th, 2009 a formidable editorial by the photographer Andrew Matusik. It’s called "Sir Realist" and gives a new interpretation of the well known paintings by the Belgian surrealist René Magritte (1898–1967).

René Magritte: La Magie Noire (1933/34)

and the new tribute by Andrew Matusik:


René Magritte: La Chateau des Pyrenees (1959)


and the interpretation by Andrew Matusik:

Patriotic Pin-Ups

On the cover of Vanity Fair in January 2009 was a very patriotic photo by Annie Leibovitz (so it may be more ironical).

But this photo is a quotation of a pin-up by the painter Rolf Armstrong (1889-1960). It dates from 1945 and was called "The Winning Combination". So it was a celebration of the end of the Second World War.

Maybe Leibovitz was just celebrating the end of the Bush era.

Fairies

In 2008 Paris Hilton started the new promo for her fragrance Fairy Dust. There she dressed up as a fairy or as something that she thought may look like one.

But the modern conception how fairies has to look like is strongly influenced by paintings from the 19th century like this one by the British artist John Atkinson Grimshaw (1836-1893).

Spirit of the Night (1879)

Mondrian

In the US edition of Harper's Bazaar appeared in September 2008 a nice series by the British photographer Alexi Lubomirski with the title "Bright Ideas"


I cannot avoid but to me it seems like a quotation of the famous paintings by Piet Mondrian (1872–1944).

Greek Fashion

This picture by the British fashion photographer Clive Arrowsmith reminds of the neo-classicist painting by the British artist John William Godward (1861 –1922).
I don't know if Arrowsmith knows Godward but I suppose that he has seen similar ones (there are a lot in the web and in museums).

Godward: Memories (1891)

Charming Facism

I think in 2008 there was a new clip for the Citroën C5, which should be sold with the slogan: "Unmistakeably German".


Well, why not. But it's a strange image of Germany, which is used by this clip. The whole scenery is taken from the thirties, the blond SS-styled guy and the Wagnerian music. To me it seems like a production by Leni Riefenstahl.




But the best, and I don’t think that this is a pure coincidence, the protagonist looks almost exactly like Jonathan Littell that English/French writer, who became famous with his novel “The Kindly Ones” the fictional memories of an SS officer and mass murderer.

So what the hell they are doing here? Telling their customers what cool guys have served in the SS and that this is unmistakeably German?