by Maria Sofou
American photographer Laura Hofstadter has captured an amazing series of photographs that recreates famous classical paintings, starring herself!
Stages features classical works from Vermeer, Magritte, Degas, Picasso, Rembrandt and many more, personalized by the photographer by only using household props.
“These photographs are from an ongoing series of self portraits in which I photographically emulate classical paintings from Western art. In this series of photographs I have tried to express my feelings as a woman growing older in a youth-obsessed society. The portfolio is also a loose narrative reflecting my experience of facing breast cancer, whose treatment disfigured my body. My hope is that viewers will confront preconceptions about youth, age, beauty, and body image when looking at these pictures… Instead of slavishly re-creating each source artwork, I prefer to sacrifice features of the original while adding new touches to make an image that is both recognizably the painting but also purely me. I have eschewed almost all make-up, and rather than constructing elaborate decor, costumes or props, I create simple sets using my own house or backyard, everyday objects, and my own, borrowed, or home-sewn garments whenever possible. My husband, Leonard Shar, is an invaluable collaborator,” Hofstadter explains.
