Re-creating Gustave Courbet’s ‘the Desperate Man’

My attempt to bring to modern light to Gustave Courbet’s ‘The Desperate Man’ and shed light on why he’s so desperate.

The project was to take a very famous old painting and re-create the image photographically in the studio using particular lighting, costume etc. Also to bring an element of ‘modern life’ to the image.

My idea is based on a modern, working office man (hence shirt and tie) who in this case is desperately trying to keep up with the stresses of day to day life and has also perhaps had a run in with a little minx (lipstick on collar) making his situation & life all the more desperate.

It was a fun project!