A few weeks ago, while hiking near White Oak Bayou, my daughter Harriet picked a bouquet of this year's astoundingly abundant wildflowers. I snapped the photo above and posted it to Facebook.
A day or so later, a commenter pointed out the resemblance to one of the most beloved paintings in the Museum of Fine Arts: William-Adolphe Bouguereau's "The Elder Sister." I showed the painting to Harriet, whose first comment was "Hey, that girl looks like me!"
She does, a little bit, and there is a similar composition to my picture and Bouguereau's painting, though the idyllic French master did not include the Shepherd overpass and a McDonald's billboard in his work, so mine is totally way better than his.
Anyway, it got us thinking about a fun photo contest:
You, the art-loving photographers of Houston, are challenged with re-creating your favorite painting in Houston.
It wouldn't have to be a literal reproduction: "inspired by" or "after [artist's work]" are not just acceptable but encouraged. Just send us your picture and image of the work that inspired it.
The work must hang on the walls of a public museum or gallery in Houston. Here's a great place to get some ideas going....
Have fun and happy shooting....
