Researchers studying paintings from the 16th through 20th centuries, for example, have found that in Western portraits, the subject took up a larger portion of the picture and was painted in a way to make the subject stand out, the study said. In Eastern portraits, the subjects tended to be smaller and to blend into the background.
Even now, the differences often remain. When [...] researchers handed students cameras in an earlier study and asked them to take portraits, the subjects filled more space in the frame of the photographs taken by the Americans.
I've noticed this type of thing myself when I compare family pics I've taken with ones taken by my (Japanese) wife. In fact, I frequently (and perhaps naggingly) have to remind my wife that there is indeed a zoom control on the camera; the people in her pics look tiny to me.
Anyway, I was reminded of the above quote from the Times article again this past weekend when I saw some "portraits" of me and my wife that our 5-year-old daughter had drawn. Here's the one she made of me:
And here's the one she made of her mother:
Now, if you're finished laughing about my "big head" (my wife isn't yet), it's possible that you've noticed the different approaches my daughter took in drawing these pictures. Not particularly scientific, I confess, but (I thought) kinda interesting...
It seems to me that she has a BIGGER concept of you, probably because daddy is such a PROMINENT image at that age..
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, she asociates mom with the sweetest and softest aspect of life.
But I'm no psychologist. I'm just horsing around.
Usual Stuff,
ReplyDeleteYou might be right. Also, I generally put myself at eye level when I talk to her.
I'm also interested by the clearly different eye shapes that she drew. I think I said something about this somewhere else on this fine blog -- that I have noticed that Japanese kids drawing Japanese people often make the eyes quite round.
ReplyDeleteConsidering how she drew you so big, it's a good thing that you crouch down to talk to her. I'd hate to think of you standing up straight, and what other body part of yours would instead be at her eye level.
Brendan,
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that Japanese kids drawing Japanese people often make the eyes quite round.
I've noticed that too, but you'll notice that she didn't draw her mother with round eyes. I imagine it's pretty hard for my daughter to ignore the difference.
what other body part of yours would instead be at her eye level.
These days that would be my beer belly (she's a bit tall).
... but you'll notice that she didn't draw her mother with round eyes.
ReplyDeleteYes, I did, and I meant to make clearer my observation. I wonder if she does this because she has yours to compare to.
... tall ...
Phew.
great pics
ReplyDeleteand interesting indeed