Most of the visual images we see today are a result of past experiences. We often don’t realize that the things we see may not be that unique or new. Sure there’s appropriation in art, which makes a particular statement, but in fashion photography the inspiration often goes back to art (painting) history, only to create interesting, new images. I wrote about art inspiring fashion a lot of times by now, and this time is not different. As an art student, I may have seen paintings/art works that you didn’t have the interest or the chance to see. So, whenever I see something that I know I’ve seen it before, I love to share it, hoping that it is interesting for you to read. Archimboldo is a painter mostly known for his characters constructed out of fruits and vegetables (the collage also features paintings of Andre Martins De Barros- right corner, down). Unfortunately I do not know the photographer who shot the editorial with characters made out of, guess what! - fruits and vegetables.

Then we have the well known painter Francis Bacon, who’s nightmare-ish characters seem to have inspired those photographs (first 4 images of the collage on top). It’s no doubt about the inspiration for those photographs, right? The pink and black background, the perspective, the movement, the distortion of the head, the nakedness of the body: very, very Bacon.

Last but not least: ancient art, Greek sculptures to be more specific, seem to have inspired that Elle Italia fashion editorial, photographed by Ruven Afanador for their December 2007 issue. The model is amazing, isn’t she? Much better than to see skeletal underage girls and their bones in fashion spreads. Call it a reaction to the size 0 obsession, I just call it a return to the classics. Beauty needs to be cherished, art can be beautiful, therefor art needs to be cherished. Mom, dad, hopefully by now you stopped thinking that I’m wasting my life by choosing art for my future.

How can you not be inspired by such beauty?