Issue #31/ref. / Hisaji Hara

A Photographic Portrayal of the Paintings of Balthus

In his project A Photographic Portrayal of the Paintings of Balthus Hisaji Hara engaged in a thorough investigation of the French-Polish master painter's oeuvre. Meticulously recreating some of Balthus' provocative paintings through careful staging design, Hara converted the original context into scenes steeped in Japanese nostalgia. The effect combines the historical feel of a documentary record with the drama of a film still.