THE TRIUMPH OF PAN BY NICOLAS POUSSIN
The original painting of Triumph of Pan was a not so subtle celebration of culture, as portrayed by Nicolas Poussin, leading painter in the baroque style that was synonymous with French painting. The painting depicts pan lain in the middle of a tight-knit group of people who appear to be reveling in all kinds of pleasure, some in lewd sexual positions, and others seeming to partake in alcoholic drinks. Some of the men and women appear to be completely naked and exposed as others appear to be struggling to get up, possibly due to the alcohol intake, or the coercion may be interpreted as a representation of rape. The painting does not seem to hold just a single meaning but maybe understood uniquely by everyone who sees it.
Recently, in the year 2017, Louis Vuitton, a popular fashion and luxury retail store, took the bold step of collaborating with famous contemporary artist Jeff Koons in their latest chain of handbags (Editor). The whole idea was the creation of luxury bags with famous paintings done by Jeff Koons imprinted on them. The paintings were typically redone depictions of paintings done by previous famous artists. Jeff Koons borrowed from the works of several artists such as Poussin, Gaugan, Boucher, Turner, and Manet, after which the collection of bags was thereby named. (Editor)
From the collection of art pieces done by Nicolas Poussin, Jeff Koon selected the famous “Triumph of Pan” to be used in the master’s collection. The painting, however, isn’t depicted as it was in the original but made a few subtle yet significant changes. The figure of pan is spread out on the ground, much like in the previous painting. However, it appears to have a harmonica shaped musical instrument beside him. The figure of pan, however, appears to have a crystal blue gazing ball on top of him, within it the reflection of an observer admiring a work of art. This is a means of showing the special connection the observer of a piece of art has with the artwork. This could have been employed to show the sort of relationship between the bag and its owner Louis Vuitton hopes to get from the master’s collection. The group of people around pan, much like in the original painting, appear to be taking part in some sexual activity. There is a difference, however, in the instruments, they are holding. In place of the chalices they were holding, which is usually interpreted to portray alcoholism in that society, the men and women appear to be holding musical instruments instead. A man to the left of the portrait is seen holding a long trumpet, while alone woman in the background of the right side of the frame is seen holding a tambourine. As mentioned earlier, pan appears to be lying beside a harmonica. All these are subtle references to the vast impact of music as an art in our present-day society. Through this, the master’s collection will not only appeal to the art-loving generation but also the young, hip, musical generation. The men and women too aren’t dressed quite as they were before, with some of the men and women donning crowns of flowers and sashes also, made of beautiful flowers. This, in some way, introduces the whole fashion aspect, the beauty that the bag as an accessory hopes to bring out in the buyer. This is what sets it apart from being just a beautiful piece of work plastered onto an accessory to something that appeals to the fashion market. It is, therefore, not a case of appropriation of art as the artist put his unique depiction to it.