Exploring the Iconic: How 1960s Art Reflected Fame and Alienation

A Glimpse into the 1960s Art Scene

When Peter Blake painted a portrait of his friend David Hockney in 1965, he chose to base it on a photograph rather than having Hockney pose. This decision highlights a growing distance in art, where photography began to dominate the portrayal of reality. Blake's work contrasts the two-dimensional figures with three-dimensional balloons, suggesting themes of loss and nostalgia. Hockney, who had recently moved to Los Angeles, appears as a distant icon rather than a tangible friend.

To be an icon in the 1960s often meant being remote from reality. The Holburne Museum's exhibit, subtitled Portraiture from Francis Bacon to Andy Warhol, explores this phenomenon through various works. For instance, Yuri Gagarin's image is immortalized in Joe Tilson’s work, while Colin Self combines Ursula Andress with a nuclear fallout sign, reflecting the era's anxieties.

The Impact of Photography on Art

The 1960s marked a pivotal shift in how artists interacted with photography, film, and mass reproduction. This era of the plastic fantastic age saw artists like Blake capturing the Beatles in a nostalgic light, using images that were already considered outdated by the time of their creation.

As some icons like Mick Jagger remain timeless, others, such as Brigitte Bardot, are depicted through the lens of their time, their features rendered in a way that mimics old newspaper photos. Pauline Boty's portrait of Jean-Paul Belmondo reflects a similar nostalgia, combining black and white with vibrant colors to signify her admiration.

Exploring Alienation and Fame

While Francis Bacon is included in the exhibit, his works diverge from the celebrity focus, illustrating a deeper sense of alienation. Walter Sickert's self-portrait captures the shock of self-recognition in media, presenting a haunting image of an old man grappling with his mortality in the age of photography.

In Andy Warhol’s 1967 Self-Portrait, the artist's features dissolve into a kaleidoscope of colors, showcasing the transience of fame. As one approaches the painting, the image becomes less defined, reflecting how celebrity can distort personal identity.

This exhibition ultimately captures the evolution of pop art from innocent beginnings to a complex exploration of the nightmare of fame and media saturation.

Iconic: Portraiture from Francis Bacon to Andy Warhol is at the Holburne Museum, Bath, from 24 January to 5 May.