Seventeen (Titre journalistique)
1962
Glycerophtalic paint and photographic collage on panel, glitter, feathers, glass, painted wood, powder puff
183 x 132.2 x 6 cm
A photographic icon whose paint make-up is enhanced with sequins and feathers, Seventeen (titre journalistique) (journalistic title) transforms beauty into a morbid spectacle. A painting within the painting, the eye framed and filled with a bright green is disturbing, as if denatured. A powder puff next to the two-tone mouth, iconic red and severe black, confirms that make-up is the key theme of this work, which has a striking visual impact.
At first glance, Seventeen (titre journalistique) seems to celebrate the femininity praised by magazines, but Raysse exaggerates the use make-up, which loses its power of beautification here. On the contrary, it looks like a wound printed on the skin, attesting to his ambivalent feelings about consumerism in modern society.
A powerful example of Raysse's indictment of artificiality, Seventeen (titre journalistique) is in the Pinault Collection. It was first exhibited at the "Sequence 1" show in 2007 at the Palazzo Grassi.
At first glance, Seventeen (titre journalistique) seems to celebrate the femininity praised by magazines, but Raysse exaggerates the use make-up, which loses its power of beautification here. On the contrary, it looks like a wound printed on the skin, attesting to his ambivalent feelings about consumerism in modern society.
A powerful example of Raysse's indictment of artificiality, Seventeen (titre journalistique) is in the Pinault Collection. It was first exhibited at the "Sequence 1" show in 2007 at the Palazzo Grassi.
Exhibitions
Martial RAYSSE © Adagp, Paris.
