Ben Gest

In recent work, Ben Gest photographs individuals in private and pensive moments. At first glance, the pictures have considerable emotional power.


Ben Gest, Kate Fixing Her Earring, 2005

On closer examination, though, it becomes apparent that there is something spatially amiss here. In fact, we are told, Gest has photographed his figures from multiple points of view, and combined those views by digital means.

Why? Who knows. Perhaps to emulate painting's historic rejection of single-point perspective. (If so, he's about 100 years late.)


J.-A. Ingres, Madame de Haussonville, 1851

For me, the distortion in these photographs is most strongly reminiscent not of Braque or Picasso but of certain paintings by Ingres. Ingres's distortion, however, is generally understood to have been the product of his own rather strange sensuality. Gest's intent is less clear.