Goddess or sacrifice? It's so interesting to look at these all together (esp. the ones in the altogether) to see the way the photographer frames the subject -- some seem to be taken from the vantage point or for the consumption of the male gaze and some seem more a celebration of the woman herself, less consumption than appreciation. I wonder which photographers were women and which were men?
townhouse- good point. It is Man Ray in Lee Miller's case (#6)It is interesting to note though- that LM was a professional at modelling-her father had photoed her many times. A photographer in her own right, maybe even a man eater. From what I have just learned about Natalie Barney (#3) was the same-it her case-both sexes. In all the 3 nudes-I'd say these women may have been the true feminists in their eras. The actresses- Indeed have more of sacrificial image- However- Women should be acknowledged for their powers of seduction, use what you've got especially when so few options were open them. Would love to get other opinions on this?
Whose lips are curling up delightfully just at the corners in the 5th picture? When you asked us to participate on this project - I realised very quickly how a 20th century beauty soon became a "movie star." Naturally they are the most in view, but not always in control of their image. They become someone else's art, someone else's object. Still, something of their personality comes through and ALL are armed with seduction.
le style- I am fascinated by your Barney and Eluard picks -You must do posts about them both. The cat that swallowed the canary 5 is Kay Kendall(an AAL pick)She tragically died at age 33-actress wife of Rex Harrison. Worthy of a follow up story. I wish I had time to do them all justice. Other images of her are stunning too. GT
Eluard yes, but I don't think I'm the one who mentionned Barney. If I did, I shouldn't have - because I don't know who she is! The other one who is a bit less well-known from my list was a real Perle (no cats shall roam). I could get around to these French beauties perhaps. Funny, I felt a little uncomfortable about this - don't like rating - but then we think more of the people who touch us. And may be touched by others - like I feel I will be by this Kay Kendall.
Le style- No you didn't so much for memorizing a list of 100-I didn't. That was a Lucindaville pick. I think the best part of this is seeing perhaps-less knowns. The actresses were so much photographed it is hard not to gravitate to them. As HOBAC said it was harder than it would seem, all in all I think a worthwhile exercise.I of course-gained the most from all the input from my friends. G
Aesthete, Donyale Luna is stunning, I found some fantastic photos of her and was sent some as well-another fast track tragedy-in fact devastatingly so.
LotusGreen- Some are tricky, The Harlow is actually LANA TURNER. After Deneuve Donyale Luna-model. Not Oberon but VIVIEN LEIGH (of Gone with the Wind fame as Scarlett, along with so many movies-Blanche Streetcar and stage). Isabella Rosselini yes, and MMonroe. I hope you read yesterdays initial post on Devastating Beauty and the week of posts. Come back tomorrow for the list. pgt
What a lineup! In both posts thus far on the topic of beauty, several have suggested the photographer, the framing, the styling, etc. I have to concur that while many of these women were celebrated for their beauty, photogenically speaking, I believe it's the mastery of the photographer that's evidenced.
As someone had mentioned in the original post, the perception of beauty is as much a product of one's overall bearing - speech, poise, mannerisms, carriage, the animation of the face. Who has not at one time or another viewed the loveliest of countenances only to be horrified when they spoke, laughed, or performed some other graceless offense. I don't mean to diminish the loveliness of the lineup, but I've always been fascinated by those who can mystify with the most modest of faces, or possess all the wrong facial features in shape, scale and size, yet when viewed as a whole, present a completely satisfying composite.
Forgive my philosophical take on the topic, but I learned very early on that what gazed out from the pages of magazines had little to do with reality.
One of the best pieces I've read on the ideal of beauty and the complexity that ultimately defines it, was written by the incomparable Cecil Beaton, who certainly had the eye, the photographer's command of the subject and the objectivity (from my understanding, they were not yet acquainted) in his now rather well-known analysis of Audrey Hepburn, written for Vogue in 1954, when he described in illuminating detail, the embodiment of the new feminine ideal, or what he deemed the "authentic existentialist Galatea" with a voice that had "a quality of heartbreak."
This is too much fun! As townhouse alluded, the devastating in these cases has as much to do with the photographer as with the subject. Beauty is so often a collaboration.
Love the Isabella Rosselini shot... I think it is from an old Lancome lipstick ad campaign, isn´t it? Hope you had a fabulous start into 2010, little auguruy!
There is a famous Lee Miller photo of herself in the tub of Hitler...what a coup she felt that day, so BEAUTIFUL, SURREALISM at its height - for who would have ever imagined that a Jewish girl would be taking a bath in Hitlers' tub! She was truly an artist. Her relationship with her father was at best odd, rather incestous, much like Rita Hayworth with her father when she was Margarita Cansino.
Beauty IS Lonely and sometimes a SHARP double edged sword!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just discovered your MAGNIFICENT blog. Not only is it vastly stimulating, but also of great use to me, as I am currently writing a whole book about notions of beauty. How lovely and serendipitous to find myself here. Thank you. Tania.
I weigh in on the side of the esteemed Aesthete. I have always been more impressed by what people do with their lives than what they were born with whether that is physical beauty or wealth. The feminist in me is torn by the objectification of women—and men. Having said all that, are the women without botox, silicon and photoshop a lovely remembrance that beauty doesn't have to be supersized.
so many ideas of and about beauty-this is why the discussion is relevant. always the plastic surgery notion appears within that- some are done often & not well. One of the Beauties ruined her looks from unsuccessful paraffin wax injections. I think Beauty can be many things-where it takes one or does not and how it can ruin someone or someone else. The Aesthete also espouses good posture- poise as it were. Beauty is in the eye-of this there is no doubt.
what fun this is- and Audrey is coming-She is on the list with over 100 names- Please weigh in with your favourites in the next post- FROM the list in IV and help come up with a top 10!
This is Great fun. Beauty, devastating or otherwise is an enormously complex subject. It is very well navigated in this series. How lovely to see them all, especially Joan Chen and Tina Chow.
Isabella is exquisite.
ReplyDeleteI'd add Katharine Hepburn. For the cheekbones.
Bridget Badot was beautiful when she was young and she still is now with her devotion to animal cruelity.
ReplyDeleteGoddess or sacrifice? It's so interesting to look at these all together (esp. the ones in the altogether) to see the way the photographer frames the subject -- some seem to be taken from the vantage point or for the consumption of the male gaze and some seem more a celebration of the woman herself, less consumption than appreciation. I wonder which photographers were women and which were men?
ReplyDeleteNo idea who the first two are.
ReplyDeleteHOBAC- Rita Hayworth at top, next is Nusch Eluard (whom I knew nothing of until this project commenced) G
ReplyDeletetownhouse- good point. It is Man Ray in Lee Miller's case (#6)It is interesting to note though- that LM was a professional at modelling-her father had photoed her many times. A photographer in her own right, maybe even a man eater. From what I have just learned about Natalie Barney (#3) was the same-it her case-both sexes. In all the 3 nudes-I'd say these women may have been the true feminists in their eras. The actresses- Indeed have more of sacrificial image- However- Women should be acknowledged for their powers of seduction, use what you've got especially when so few options were open them. Would love to get other opinions on this?
ReplyDeleteWhose lips are curling up delightfully just at the corners in the 5th picture?
ReplyDeleteWhen you asked us to participate on this project - I realised very quickly how a 20th century beauty soon became a "movie star." Naturally they are the most in view, but not always in control of their image. They become someone else's art, someone else's object. Still, something of their personality comes through and ALL are armed with seduction.
le style- I am fascinated by your Barney and Eluard picks -You must do posts about them both. The cat that swallowed the canary 5 is Kay Kendall(an AAL pick)She tragically died at age 33-actress wife of Rex Harrison. Worthy of a follow up story. I wish I had time to do them all justice. Other images of her are stunning too. GT
ReplyDeletelovely to see Donyale Luna.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Antony Armstrong-Jones made the list? Really? KDM
ReplyDeleteEluard yes, but I don't think I'm the one who mentionned Barney. If I did, I shouldn't have - because I don't know who she is! The other one who is a bit less well-known from my list was a real Perle (no cats shall roam). I could get around to these French beauties perhaps. Funny, I felt a little uncomfortable about this - don't like rating - but then we think more of the people who touch us. And may be touched by others - like I feel I will be by this Kay Kendall.
ReplyDeleteLe style- No you didn't so much for memorizing a list of 100-I didn't. That was a Lucindaville pick. I think the best part of this is seeing perhaps-less knowns. The actresses were so much photographed it is hard not to gravitate to them. As HOBAC said it was harder than it would seem, all in all I think a worthwhile exercise.I of course-gained the most from all the input from my friends. G
ReplyDeleteAesthete, Donyale Luna is stunning, I found some fantastic photos of her and was sent some as well-another fast track tragedy-in fact devastatingly so.
ReplyDeleteAnon-Indeed the Princess did, once again proving Beauty is in the eye. la
ReplyDeleteso interesting that you should ask if we knew who they were as that was just the question i'd been asking myself.
ReplyDeletei'm going to try, without reading all the answers here:
i'm shocked to realize i'm not positive of anyone until sophia loren and ava gardner, even though some look so familiar.
then someone that isn't marilyn monroe (harlow?), then catherine deneuve?
merle oberon?
oh, is that isabella?
then of course.... MM.
nusch is lovely.
LotusGreen- Some are tricky, The Harlow is actually LANA TURNER. After Deneuve Donyale Luna-model.
ReplyDeleteNot Oberon but VIVIEN LEIGH (of Gone with the Wind fame as Scarlett, along with so many movies-Blanche Streetcar and stage). Isabella Rosselini yes, and MMonroe. I hope you read yesterdays initial post on Devastating Beauty and the week of posts. Come back tomorrow for the list. pgt
LA,
ReplyDeleteWhat a lineup! In both posts thus far on the topic of beauty, several have suggested the photographer, the framing, the styling, etc. I have to concur that while many of these women were celebrated for their beauty, photogenically speaking, I believe it's the mastery of the photographer that's evidenced.
As someone had mentioned in the original post, the perception of beauty is as much a product of one's overall bearing - speech, poise, mannerisms, carriage, the animation of the face. Who has not at one time or another viewed the loveliest of countenances only to be horrified when they spoke, laughed, or performed some other graceless offense. I don't mean to diminish the loveliness of the lineup, but I've always been fascinated by those who can mystify with the most modest of faces, or possess all the wrong facial features in shape, scale and size, yet when viewed as a whole, present a completely satisfying composite.
Forgive my philosophical take on the topic, but I learned very early on that what gazed out from the pages of magazines had little to do with reality.
One of the best pieces I've read on the ideal of beauty and the complexity that ultimately defines it, was written by the incomparable Cecil Beaton, who certainly had the eye, the photographer's command of the subject and the objectivity (from my understanding, they were not yet acquainted) in his now rather well-known analysis of Audrey Hepburn, written for Vogue in 1954, when he described in illuminating detail, the embodiment of the new feminine ideal, or what he deemed the "authentic existentialist Galatea" with a voice that had "a quality of heartbreak."
http://www.audrey1.org/archives/79/audrey-hepburn-by-cecil-beaton
Perhaps, in summary, we continue to debate what is obviously apparent: Beauty is, indeed, in the eye of the beholder.
This is too much fun! As townhouse alluded, the devastating in these cases has as much to do with the photographer as with the subject. Beauty is so often a collaboration.
ReplyDeleteLove the Isabella Rosselini shot... I think it is from an old Lancome lipstick ad campaign, isn´t it?
ReplyDeleteHope you had a fabulous start into 2010, little auguruy!
There is a famous Lee Miller photo of herself in the tub of Hitler...what a coup she felt that day, so BEAUTIFUL, SURREALISM at its height - for who would have ever imagined that a Jewish girl would be taking a bath in Hitlers' tub! She was truly an artist. Her relationship with her father was at best odd, rather incestous, much like Rita Hayworth with her father when she was Margarita Cansino.
ReplyDeleteBeauty IS Lonely and sometimes a SHARP double edged sword!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just discovered your MAGNIFICENT blog. Not only is it vastly stimulating, but also of great use to me, as I am currently writing a whole book about notions of beauty. How lovely and serendipitous to find myself here. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTania.
Oops, I meant 2 and 3. But now I do know.
ReplyDeleteis that dorothy dandridge right before sofia loren?
ReplyDeleteand vivian leigh -- of course it is! (whacking forehead)
a couple of them are really driving me crazy, thoughy it surely will be odd if i *don't* know them!
and n o-- i didn't discover the preceeding posts till after this.
just give me time
Lotus, Yes Dorothy Dandridge is right and Sofia. You are doing so well-I think maybe amidst all the comments some of the answers will be there.pgt
ReplyDeleteTania- I love your blog and follow along, Enjoy your stay here and weigh in regularly- there are 2 previous post in this series. GT
ReplyDeleteI weigh in on the side of the esteemed Aesthete. I have always been more impressed by what people do with their lives than what they were born with whether that is physical beauty or wealth. The feminist in me is torn by the objectification of women—and men. Having said all that, are the women without botox, silicon and photoshop a lovely remembrance that beauty doesn't have to be supersized.
ReplyDeleteso many ideas of and about beauty-this is why the discussion is relevant. always the plastic surgery notion appears within that- some are done often & not well. One of the Beauties ruined her looks from unsuccessful paraffin wax injections. I think Beauty can be many things-where it takes one or does not and how it can ruin someone or someone else. The Aesthete also espouses good posture- poise as it were. Beauty is in the eye-of this there is no doubt.
ReplyDeleteMarella Agnelli...love that neck. One of Truman Capote's swans. But you did forget Audrey Hepburn!
ReplyDeletewhat fun this is- and Audrey is coming-She is on the list with over 100 names- Please weigh in with your favourites in the next post- FROM the list in IV and help come up with a top 10!
ReplyDeleteThis is Great fun. Beauty, devastating or otherwise is an enormously complex subject. It is very well navigated in this series. How lovely to see them all, especially Joan Chen and Tina Chow.
ReplyDeleteAll the best, from a chilly snowy Paris
Debra