We only see it on television channels and on the front pages of the press around the world this Friday. The death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday in Balmoral, Scotland, of course, boosted her face. urbi and orbi on the planetary stage. But it was not necessary to wait for the disappearance of the sovereign for her to be abundantly represented. During its 96 years of existence, it has obsessed photographers and artists. She to the point of becoming the most represented personality in the world.
“Exceeds All Precedents”
The title was awarded to him in 2012 by the National Gallery, when the British museum opened an exhibition dedicated to the image of the monarch on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of his reign. In the exhibition catalogue, its organizer, Paul Moorhead, stated: “Over the last 60 years, the wide media circulation of images of the Queen exceeds all historical precedent.”
Surpassed, therefore, the dictators of the 20th century despite the cult of personality orchestrated by their regime and served by the means of totalitarianism. With the hatch Marylin Monroe or James Dean whose cinematographic glory however knew a vast artistic posterity, in particular through pop-art. Even modern icons to the Madonna can’t line up.
Banknotes, royalty free image: the economic factors of success
There are many reasons to explain the phenomenon. The first is, of course, due to the overexposure of its function, especially in the modern age. In addition, its position has placed it nominally at the head of 2.609 million inhabitants of the Commonwealth and 67 million British. Elizabeth II was also portrayed on the coins of one billion of them, according to the census established by the Los Angeles Times, as in national stamps. A double advantage reserved for heads of state and that the stars of the world of culture cannot claim.
His longevity on the throne, 70 years, further increased the opportunities for performances. Still in the economic chapter, we note one last not insignificant argument: his image is free of rights.
reservation service
There is another (more indirect) dimension of her iconographic success, linked to her obligations as sovereign. Her famous duty of secrecy, which prevented her from speaking publicly about the affairs of her country and her world throughout her life, has actually saved her image, protecting her in part from any disturbance capable of dividing the her opinion.
A silence as an “ideal blank canvas on which artists could project their own feelings on issues of class, power, authority, loneliness or any other topic that occurred to them,” the Californian newspaper theorized.
A history of art itself
If we do not have a precise count of the portraits made of the monarch, it is clear that they are distributed by all means, they match both the spirit of the time and the evolution that animates the world of art, and reflect that of its perception. by the public
One of the earliest depictions of the Queen of England dates from 1952, the year she came to power. It is a photo of Dorothy Wilding that explicitly chose to immortalize her in the manner of one of the stars of Hollywood, then in the golden age, Marlene Dietrich or Elizabeth Taylor.
A change of scenery in 1977, at a time when their 25-year reign was colliding violently with the punk explosion, when graphic designer Jamie Reid illustrated the Sex Pistols single. God save the Queen hijacking a cliché that appeared in a newspaper and plastering his face with newspaper clippings.
Among so many possible examples, we can still cite the painting by Justin Mortimer in 1998, delivering an evanescent and decapitated vision.
decades of cinema
Obviously, it was inevitable that Elizabeth II would make it to the movies, popular art among all. However, her character’s initial appearance in a story is not meant to be remembered: as reported here the independentshe was first a “Queen” road “dragin a 1971 pornographic film, Tricia’s wedding. Since then, she has been portrayed more classically by a large number of actresses, of which here is a by no means exhaustive list: Jeannette Charles (who played her five times), Helen Mirren, Emma Thompson, Claire Foy and Olivia Colman (both in the series The crown), Freya Wilson (who played her as a child in The speech of a king) or Stella Gonet, lately, in spencer.
Soon, therefore, it will be Charles’s face that will appear on British passports, stamps and banknotes. But the son and successor of Elizabeth II will find it difficult to outshine her in theaters and museums.
Source: BFM TV
