13 Ways of Looking
Virgins
Virgins
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When I begin with any group of images, the concept of meaning isn’t very important. At
least not consciously. I don’t intend meaning; it just happens. If I’m lucky. As the pieces
get assembled, some sort of meaning does generate for me, but I am always hard-pressed
to articulate it. So I would just as soon ignore it. I count on perspicacious viewers for
meaning.
The genesis of these “virgins” is in 16th and 17th Century Spanish religious painting:
objects of veneration both personal (at home) and public (in church). Veneration of the
Virgin Mary became a state matter in certain European countries, most notably, Spain.
Phillip II, I believe, ordered that the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception be accepted
as dogma in Spain, long before it became official Church dogma in the 19th Century. I
think that’s a very interesting idea. Three centuries later, we seem to venerate all sorts of
celebrity representations. Sports posters in the den, rock stars in the kids’ room, and so on.
Who can forget Farrah Fawcett’s famous swimsuit poster? I thought it would be
interesting and maybe useful to subvert that whole 17th Century thing in an amusing and
playful, yet serious, fashion.
least not consciously. I don’t intend meaning; it just happens. If I’m lucky. As the pieces
get assembled, some sort of meaning does generate for me, but I am always hard-pressed
to articulate it. So I would just as soon ignore it. I count on perspicacious viewers for
meaning.
The genesis of these “virgins” is in 16th and 17th Century Spanish religious painting:
objects of veneration both personal (at home) and public (in church). Veneration of the
Virgin Mary became a state matter in certain European countries, most notably, Spain.
Phillip II, I believe, ordered that the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception be accepted
as dogma in Spain, long before it became official Church dogma in the 19th Century. I
think that’s a very interesting idea. Three centuries later, we seem to venerate all sorts of
celebrity representations. Sports posters in the den, rock stars in the kids’ room, and so on.
Who can forget Farrah Fawcett’s famous swimsuit poster? I thought it would be
interesting and maybe useful to subvert that whole 17th Century thing in an amusing and
playful, yet serious, fashion.
Ann Savage No. 1
Laurette Taylor
Jennifer Jones
Mae West No. 1
Jean Simmons
Carmen Miranda
Jean Harlow
Mae West No. 2
Ann Savage No. 2