Retratos Pintados

July 19, 2010 4:38 PM

Retratos Pintados "Since the late 19th century through the 1990s, hand-painted photographic portraits were a common feature in homes in the rural areas of the northeastern Brazilian states. At a time when black-and-white photographs were not considered dramatic enough, the retratos pintados (“painted portraits”) glamorized and idealized their subjects. Black-and-white family photos were enlarged and painted, conferring status on members of the family and portraying them as icons or saints. Using oil washes and other techniques specific to the region, local artisans embellished clothing with pattern and color, smoothed wrinkles, added jewelry or resurrected deceased relatives, illustrating the fantasies and desires of their customers."
posted by puny human (7 comments total)

I really like the suit the man in slide #6 has. I'd wear it. Although I'm no fashion expert, I bet it'd go good with a boater hat and a seltzer bottle too.
posted by frodisaur at 4:48 PM on July 19, 2010

These portraits reminded me of Playing With Pictures: The Art of Victorian Photocollage, a really interesting exhibit currently running at the AGO, but to these modern eyes they did make everyone look like they were starring in a colourized movie.
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:49 PM on July 19, 2010

I love slide #9. A lot of these artists are really talented, and the ones who aren't just make for awesomely kitschy portraits.
posted by emilyd22222 at 4:49 PM on July 19, 2010

The Morning News.org has larger gallery, both in number of photos and in the size of images. Art Hag has some shots of the gallery show.

My grandparents had a less glamorized photo from their wedding in 194x in the US. It remained as a small black-and-white image with minor tinting, and I realize now that the artist could have been pushed their craft further.

There are guides for the more tame photo tinting with physical tools, but digital tinting provides more options, with the washed out colors and hazy atmosphere, and you can take it farther in different ways.
posted by filthy light thief at 5:09 PM on July 19, 2010

I once bought a photo-tinting kit. The most abundant color you get is fleshtone. Then sky blue.
posted by acrasis at 6:37 PM on July 19, 2010

Thanks for that Morning News link flt. I don't know how I missed that. I think I will email the mods to include it in the fpp.
posted by puny human at 6:40 PM on July 19, 2010

Painting black and white photos is a real art. There was a young woman who went to my college who made art that was sort of a mix of the old Victorian photo collages and old school photo tinting. It's really sad that it is a niche hobby now. The last picture is my favorite.
posted by 200burritos at 6:49 PM on July 19, 2010