There are a million different personalities within the National Portrait Gallery. I found it hard to pick just one portrait to write about. I kept finding so many. What I found really interesting was that the portraits that stood out to me for possibly writing about, turned out to be actors. Crazy! Anyways. I finally decided which portrait to do. Vivian Leigh on the set of Waterloo Bridge. The portrait is absolutely beautiful. It’s black and white, and Vivian is wearing a tulle dress.
If I were to just look at this portrait, I could assume that this person was all glamor. That she is very confident with who she is. She would never leave the house without being dressed to the nines. She speaks smoothly and softly, but can have a very sharp tongue. She does not tolerate funny business. She makes sure that everyone is on track. She can let you know what she is thinking with just a look. She walks gracefully, but with a purpose and with intention. She is beauty and she is power.
The artist uses light to convey that this person is striking and very important. The photo being in black and white allows for no distraction from her face. The fact that the background is completely black really allows for her to stand out. In the top left corner, you can see that someone else is there. But their face can not be seen. They don’t draw the eyes of the viewer, or the photographer. All eyes are just on her.
If I could step into this portrait, I don’t think anyone would notice me. I feel that I would hear music playing softly in the background. And based on the title, I would hear a director giving directions, and the sound of set pieces moving. Maybe a dance instructor calling out things. I imagine it being slightly warm from all of the people around.
Here is the image below:
Theatre in London U of A 