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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Costuming in Seán Keating’s self-portraits: theatrical guise or political disguise?

subject

description

L’œuvre du peintre irlandais Seán Keating (1889–1977) a accompagné l’affirmation d’une irlandité mêlant tradition et modernité. Dans cette perspective, les nombreux autoportraits de l’artiste peuvent être considérés comme un moyen d’incarner un idéal politique. Le recours au costume dans ses autoportraits mérite attention. En effet, Keating reprend une tradition picturale bien établie en se représentant de manière ludique en costume mais utilise le dispositif de manière plus politique. En revêtant le costume traditionnel des habitants des îles d’Aran ou bien en se portraiturant en habit traditionnel dans des compositions aux accents nationalistes, Keating incarne des idées politiques et affirme que la place de l’artiste est au cœur de la nation et de la société. The paintings of Irish artist Seán Keating (1889–1977) have admittedly contributed to asserting an Irish identity blending tradition and modernity. Seen from this perspective, his numerous self-portraits may be viewed as a means to embody a political ideal. His self-portraits in costume deserve more attention than they have received so far. As a matter of fact, Keating revisits a long tradition consisting in playfully painting oneself in disguise. However, he also resorts to costuming to serve a political cause. By dressing up as an Araner or by portraying himself in traditional attire in nationalist canvases, Keating embodies his political ideas and states that the place of the artist is in the midst of the nation and society.