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The photographic project ICONIC began in 2016 and evolved since then into a huge work of art and passion.

With the help of fashion designer Lucie Vervellea and visual and makeup artist Joris Souris, I was able to recreate with innovation and accuracy more than 150 photos of artistic and historic figures who shaped the world as we know it.

In order to make the project flawless, artistic and physiognomic skills were required as well as historic and biographic knowledge of each icon.

Here's a mesmerizing glimpse of this work. You can also check out my work at the links below.

More info: Instagram | etienneclotis.com | Facebook | Vimeo

#1

Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain

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J. Pell
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cobain, a male Ophelia, drifting on a river of melancholy and madness. Beautiful work.

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I am Etienne CLOTIS photographer and director. I am passionate about images. I love to tell stories for 20 years already!

I am passionate about all forms of art, as a child, I did dance, singing and theatre, then I went back to the Conservatory to make films, but one day I fell in love with photography!

"Iconic" was born thanks to my passion for Marilyn Monroe, I find it extraordinary that someone who has died for years can still be so present in the collective culture.

One day I photographed a look-alike of Marilyn and it was the beginning of the creation of "Iconic". I partnered with a talented makeup artist, Joris Souris and a stylist who is passionate about her profession, Lucie Vervellea.

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The challenge was to dive into the life of a character because it was not possible for me to just copy a photograph or a vague idea of the icon we wanted to photograph.

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The goal was to get to know the character, to find my vision of his or her life! What period to represent? How to dress him or her? What’s gonna be recognizable? For that I read between 2 and 3 biographies per character, it takes a lot of time! But it was still an exciting adventure!

#6

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin

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J. Pell
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“...take a piece of my heart. My friends and I were camping and mourned her death by the quiet lake, watching the campfire as it slowly died.

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"Iconic" represents three years of work, it is now a book with more than 180 photographs inside. It is with this book that I got my Master's in photography and I am very proud of it!

You can check out the book here!

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#9

Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein

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Em B
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Brilliant choice in MY opinion! He did math even in the toilet! That's not so hard to believe...

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#10

Twiggy

Twiggy

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Margot Piasecka
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fabulous. Absolutely fabulous. Twiggy was a true sign of changing time.

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#13

Napoléon

Napoléon

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Jamie Holtsclaw
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually love this. His posture, the clouds in the background. Very thoughtful piece.

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#15

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor

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Allana Rose
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a very powerful visual and a deep statement on Elizabeth's power and beauty if the day.

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#18

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn

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Hari Onago
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The model looks like that singer Ariana Grande, but she is hardly iconic, unlike Hepburn.

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#19

Olivia Newton And John Travolta

Olivia Newton And John Travolta

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Lara B.
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait?? You wanna tell me that this is not the real John Travolta? Wow!! This looks soooo like him!!!

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#20

Jackie Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy

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Kristin Connon
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

white gloves would have been a dramatic touch. Still, a powerful image though.

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#23

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix

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Em B
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE JIMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome job bringing him back!

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#30

Jeanne D'arc

Jeanne D'arc

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Kristin Connon
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could be wrong, but my humble opinion is that this is not an accurate representation of the spirit of Jeanne D'arc. Fishnets? Really? This is the only one of these I didn't care for though.

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Note: this post originally had 42 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

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