With these photographs, the truism “The more things change, the more they stay the same” comes to mind. The exhibition “WIS-CON-SIN” at Portrait Society Gallery spans three centuries, and while it’s a long shot for 19th-century prairie clothing styles to come back into fashion, the attitudes and demeanors of yesteryear’s subjects are not unlike the faces of friends and strangers today.
The expansive show of about 75 pieces features Wisconsinites pictured by photographers associated with the state. The duo J. Shimon and J. Lindemann are the most contemporary, accompanied by Eugene Von Bruenchenhein’s mid-20th-century fantasy and pin-up-inspired images, and 19th-century photographer Charles Van Schaick’s uncanny scenes from the Black River Falls area.
One of the most engrossing experiences is in examining a large wall where dozens of images by Van Schaick are juxtaposed with works of Shimon and Lindemann. In this intimate setting, the moody psychologies of people participate in a curatorial call-and-response: Teens from the late 1800s and today bear similar combinations of innocence and toughness; married couples show an emotional coolness and certainty of a deep bond. The effect is like a large display of family pictures. The stories of some are unknown but the connection to the human condition is palpable.
Von Bruenchenhein is known for a number of bodies of work, including his sci-fi-styled paintings, sculptural pieces and photographs of his wife and muse, Marie, as seen in this exhibition. She is pictured as an embodiment of feminine beauty both through carefully posed nude images and outfitted in sensual costumes. These are paired with striking representations of Lindemann in similarly styled but updated costumes. Collectively, these images draw into consideration varied perceptions of women as revealed through their bodies and actions.
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“WIS-CON-SIN” ranks as one of Portrait Society’s most ambitious exhibitions and adds another to their catalog of historically important art shows. Time is decontextualized, opening up a thoughtful survey of identity and experience as lived out in this sometimes peculiar place.
Portrait Society Gallery’s “WIS-CON-SIN” exhibition runs through Aug. 30 at 207 E. Buffalo St., fifth floor.
To see a video of this exhibit, go to the art review section of shepherdexpress.com.
