ADVERTISEMENT

The photographic project ICONIC began in 2016 and evolved since then into a huge work of art and passion.

With the help of fashion designer Lucie Vervellea and visual and makeup artist Joris Souris, I was able to recreate with innovation and accuracy more than 150 photos of artistic and historic figures who shaped the world as we know it.

In order to make the project flawless, artistic and physiognomic skills were required as well as historic and biographic knowledge of each icon.

Here's a mesmerizing glimpse of this work. You can also check out my work at the links below.

More info: Instagram | etienneclotis.com | Facebook | Vimeo

#1

Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain

Report

Add photo comments
POST
J. Pell
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cobain, a male Ophelia, drifting on a river of melancholy and madness. Beautiful work.

View more commentsArrow down menu

I am Etienne CLOTIS photographer and director. I am passionate about images. I love to tell stories for 20 years already!

I am passionate about all forms of art, as a child, I did dance, singing and theatre, then I went back to the Conservatory to make films, but one day I fell in love with photography!

"Iconic" was born thanks to my passion for Marilyn Monroe, I find it extraordinary that someone who has died for years can still be so present in the collective culture.

One day I photographed a look-alike of Marilyn and it was the beginning of the creation of "Iconic". I partnered with a talented makeup artist, Joris Souris and a stylist who is passionate about her profession, Lucie Vervellea.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The challenge was to dive into the life of a character because it was not possible for me to just copy a photograph or a vague idea of the icon we wanted to photograph.

The goal was to get to know the character, to find my vision of his or her life! What period to represent? How to dress him or her? What’s gonna be recognizable? For that I read between 2 and 3 biographies per character, it takes a lot of time! But it was still an exciting adventure!

#6

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin

Report

Add photo comments
POST
J. Pell
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

“...take a piece of my heart. My friends and I were camping and mourned her death by the quiet lake, watching the campfire as it slowly died.

View more commentsArrow down menu

"Iconic" represents three years of work, it is now a book with more than 180 photographs inside. It is with this book that I got my Master's in photography and I am very proud of it!

You can check out the book here!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Em B
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Brilliant choice in MY opinion! He did math even in the toilet! That's not so hard to believe...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

Twiggy

Twiggy

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Margot Piasecka
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fabulous. Absolutely fabulous. Twiggy was a true sign of changing time.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Napoléon

Napoléon

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Jamie Holtsclaw
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually love this. His posture, the clouds in the background. Very thoughtful piece.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#15

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Allana Rose
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a very powerful visual and a deep statement on Elizabeth's power and beauty if the day.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#18

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Hari Onago
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The model looks like that singer Ariana Grande, but she is hardly iconic, unlike Hepburn.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

Olivia Newton And John Travolta

Olivia Newton And John Travolta

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Lara B.
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait?? You wanna tell me that this is not the real John Travolta? Wow!! This looks soooo like him!!!

View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Jackie Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kristin Connon
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

white gloves would have been a dramatic touch. Still, a powerful image though.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#23

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Em B
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE JIMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome job bringing him back!

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#30

Jeanne D'arc

Jeanne D'arc

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kristin Connon
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could be wrong, but my humble opinion is that this is not an accurate representation of the spirit of Jeanne D'arc. Fishnets? Really? This is the only one of these I didn't care for though.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#31

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Allana Rose
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope. Doesn't not do MM justice although it is a pretty picture of whomever this girl is.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier

Report

#34

Alice In Wonderland

Alice In Wonderland

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kc Nordquist
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She looks a little too elfish and knowing, Alice is supposed to be innocent and perhaps a touch naive.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Margot Piasecka
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It looks like a plastic doll. No charisma, no expression ... sigh ... what a pity, Elvis is dead

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

Juliette Gréco

Juliette Gréco

Report

#38

Johnny Hallyday

Johnny Hallyday

Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#39

Evita

Evita

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kristin Connon
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice pic, but it looks more like the portrayal of Madonna's portrayal of Evita than Evita herself.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#41

Catherine Deneuve

Catherine Deneuve

Report

Add photo comments
POST
Margot Piasecka
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry not the LEAST resemblance ... and not even 0.1 percent of this fabulous womans charisma ... I'm sure the artist could do better 😊