How Colour Photos Became Fun and Frivolous

You probably know that a Dandy is more than a man in fine clothes; he is a statement, a rebellion against the mundane, a carefully curated vision of excess and elegance. Explosive colourful and flamboyant He walked the street of 18th Century London just like a bright preening peacock; all show, no substance. His colours called out to all, ‘see me’ it cried, ‘I am the beautiful modern man.’ So how could this be compared to colour photography? Find out more in How Colour Photos Became Fun and Frivolous.

Image on left-hand side Apocalipstick, Lise Haller Baggesen au Confort Moderne, 2023. Curators: Kathy Alliou & Yann Chevalier

Before it was readily used black-and-white images seemed to contain serious topics that held a serious nature to its content; no frippery no humour. Along came colour images and suddenly images seemed more bold, flamboyant, and unapologetically expressive. If black-and-white photography is the sober intellectual in a tailored suit, colour photography is the peacock in a silk scarf, winking at the camera.

French Dandies, Les Incroyables (1795, Loursay)

For decades, black-and-white photography dominated as the medium of authenticity and artistic significance, often showcasing news and documentary work. Artists experimented with shadows and light, but photography remained serious; centred on capturing moments and news over joyous moments. In contrast, colour photography was somehow seen as decorative and more suited to fashion and entertainment. Yet, this distinction gave it power.

Just as a dandy reshapes perception through clothing, colour photography reinvents the world. It refuses neutrality, embracing spectacle and self-expression. A Dandy’s wardrobe is designed to be seen, to provoke, and to delight. He does not blend in; he adorns himself in elaborate textures, striking patterns, and vivid hues that demand attention.

This “peacock effect” in colour photography is intentional. The peacock parades its vibrant feathers to attract attention, stand out and seek attention. “Peacocking” is a sociological term for men flaunting their appearance. Yet we can look at the way colour has been and is still being used in photography to ‘show off’

Colour photography captivates with bold saturation and contrast. A colour-saturated image by artists like Miles Aldridge or Martin Parr refuses to go unnoticed. Their work grabs attention through vibrant visual appeal.

Martin Parr Ramsgate, England, 1996. From Common Sense©️Magnum Photos – from the Chromotherapia exhibition.

But colour is more than spectacle. It shapes emotion and perception. A dandy does not dress merely for admiration; he dresses to create an effect, to unsettle or entrance. Likewise, colour photography manipulates hues with intention. Martin Parr’s exaggerated, saturated images, such as Ramsgate, England, 1996, transform everyday scenes into ironic reflections of modern life.

Maurizio Cattelan & Pierpaolo Ferrari, Toiletpaper. Courtesy of Toiletpaper – image from the Chromotherapia exhibition.

Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari’s Toiletpaper revel in surrealism, using absurd compositions to blur the line between fashion, advertising, and fine art. Meanwhile, Juno Calypso’s Chicken Dogs, 2015 exaggerates beauty and consumer culture, using feminine tones to celebrate and critique societal norms. These photographers wield colour to challenge perception, intrigue, and provoke.

Juno Calypso Chicken Dogs, 2015, Archival Pigment ©️Courtesy the artist and TJ Boulting – from the Chromotherapia exhibition

Both dandyism and colour photography elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary. While much black-and-white photography clings to reality, much colour photography indulges in the imaginary, the hyperreal, and the exaggerated. It defies mere documentation, choosing instead to play, seduce, and mock.

For those eager to experience visual dandyism, two photography exhibitions are showing starting this month:

Lemon yellow, electric blue, blazing red, Chromotherapia at Villa Medici (Feb 28–June 9, 2025) is a feast for the eyes. This exhibition explores how colour photography reinvents reality, from hyperreal still lifes to surreal portraits.

William Wegman turns his dogs into pop icons, while Juno Calypso twists advertising aesthetics to question femininity. Arnold Odermatt’s police photos replace tragedy with precision, and Walter Chandoha’s feline portraits make house cats look like celebrities. Each artist bends colour to their will, using it to amuse, disturb, or delight.

Whether capturing the absurdity of modern life or redefining beauty in magazines, these photographers make colour their weapon of choice. Chromotherapia proves that in art, as in life, a vivid palette isn’t just decoration; it’s a statement.

Apocalipstick, Lise Haller Baggesen au Confort Moderne, 2023. Curators: Kathy Alliou & Yann Chevalier

Meanwhile a different colourful exhibition is on; ChromAmour: La Métamorphose at Le Bicolore – Maison du Danemark (February 7– March 30, 2025) in Paris explores contemporary photography’s love affair with opulence and theatricality. Lise Haller Baggesen’s ChromAmour at Le Bicolore is a riot of colour and emotion. Following her 2023 show Apocalypstick at Confort Moderne, this exhibition transforms vintage prom dresses into vivid, painted sculptures. Words and pop slogans dance across shimmering satin, turning nostalgia into bold declarations. It’s a tactile rebellion against the digital age; where colour, touch, and human presence take centre stage.

Locked down in her Chicago studio, Baggesen stitched, painted, and photographed these dresses into new narratives. Her teenage daughter performed in them, bringing each piece to life. Now, in Paris, these chrysalises unfold in an immersive installation. A celebration of transformation, ChromAmour invites us to shed our collective chromophobia and embrace colour in all its electrifying, rebellious glory.

 Chromotherapia: The Feel-Good Color Photography exhibition at the French Academy in Rome – Villa Medici will be presented from February 28 to June 9, 2025. Find everything about the exhibition here: www.villamedici.it

Le Bicolore – Maison du Danemark in Paris presents “ChromAmour: une métamorphose” from February 7 to March 30, an exhibition by Danish artist Lise Haller Baggesen, curated by Kathy Alliou. Find everything about the exhibition here: www.lebicolore.dk

If you enjoyed reading How Colour Photos Became Fun and Frivolous then why not try The Man Looks Stylish But Who is He?

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