Caffé Toscano | Michel Tréhet: Barbie in Tuscany
Barbie San Gimignano©Michel Tréhet
The simple nature of Barbie’s travels becomes fine art through the lens of Michel Tréhet.
Written by: Max Wiener
Over the summer, Barbie and her eponymous protagonist jolted back into the limelight and the forefront of our society’s zeitgeist. It served as a well-needed structural analysis of gender and equality, cementing itself as an unsung benchmark for studying the aforementioned subjects. While the film tackled difficult subjects, it also proved exceptionally light-hearted, injecting the “toy” aspect into the cultural-looking glass. The film’s director, Greta Gerwig, understood this theme, and photographer Michel Tréhet shared a like-minded mindset with his film series Barbie in Tuscany. In his youthful black-and-white images, the world's strife is replayed by cherubic candor and carefree exuberance, providing another enjoyable look at one of the most iconic toys ever created. Presented humorously on the walls of Caffé Toscano in Paris (yes, a literal cafe), coffee enjoyers can supplement their java with some easy viewing—nothing too dense for the average joe, no high-society social commentary ala The New Yorker. Tréhet masterfully creates fun art for everyone to enjoy. Those willing to make a spontaneous French expedition can view Tréhet's photographs until June 8th.
Barbie Ponte vecchio©Michel Tréhet
Tréhet channels “Traveller Barbie” and shows her exploring the Italian cities of Tuscany, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, San Gimignano, and other luscious locations throughout The Boot’s geography. There is undoubtedly a lovely sense of humor presented in Tréhet’s images, as he shows Barbie living a lavish life that many of us can only dream of. Her clothing is Jackie Kennedy-esque, her candor lady-like. She blends in perfectly with her surroundings, adapting her style to her location yet appearing to be a local; she opposes the idea of traditional tourism. Perhaps his most humorous image comes with Barbie, David Michael-Ange, showing her gazing up at the iconic elegance of Michaelangelo’s David. Her comparative size is laughable, wedged hilariously in between the sculpture’s defined thighs. The focal point of the image - the unmistakable buttocks - presents the humor in a childishly sexual manner, like a joke an older sibling would make at the dinner table. You can't help but chuckle when you look at it, at least if you have a sense of humor. It's a funny image, yes, but it's also exceptionally well-crafted by Tréhet, and one should not overlook the skills required to make such a piece of art. Each of these works is fun and light but masterfully crafted, only adding more to the tremendous depth of this series.
Barbie-David Michel-Ange©Michel Tréhet
It's interesting to think how something like Barbie in Tuscany can inspire our own lives. These images propel us to live our lives as free, unhindered selves. We should all try to be a little bit like Barbie: a little more carefree, a little more adventurous, and all the more fun. Let's take these lessons and strive to be better individuals.
Barbie Forte dei Marmi©Michel Tréhet
