Rosenquist’s Eerie Sunset

Fashion x Art Edit #15

James Rosenquist was a commercial billboard painter before become an artist. He is known for his inspirations ranging from pop culture to commercial imaging.

His art often underlies the contractions of the American consumer society, in between glossy images and material realities tied to the American Dream.

I was inspired by his work Brighter than the Sun from 1961 that contrasts oversaturated strong colors dear to pop artists at the top and softer responsive hues at the bottom. These colors are reminiscent of late 19th century art and Impressionism, diffuse and blended, they contrast with the sharp, delineated colors of the top side.

On the right, a window representing women’s legs in black and white wearing stockings, hinting to the melancholic interpretation stemming from the bottom sunrise or sunset. It is a reminder that beauty is not always what is seems.

The story-telling power of the painting, is reinforced by the cinematic juxtaposition of plans, a technique borrowed from comics. While the way one should read this painting is not necessarily straightforward, the composition underlines movement in time if not in space.

The colors resting on opposites inspired me a versatile outfit of soft and bold hues that could be worn day and night. Modular and edgy, it adapts to situations for you to write your own story.