Pastiche

Pastiche - Something old, something new, something borrowed, something...

A pastiche is a mixture of materials, forms, motifs or styles in an artwork. These may be borrowed or appropriated from a range of different sources. Usually the artist doesn't try to hide the use of the imitated motifs, forms or styles that have been used. This is particularly true in commercial art where a range of well know images from the past are often used in advertising. The artist relies on the recognition of the borrowed style or image. In fact, meaning is only made if the viewer recognises and understands the reference.

A pastiche differs from a parody in that it's usually respectful. In some cases, the artist may intend a humorous reaction to their work, or a gentle parody, but it's more about the style of the original in a new context. In some cases the new work can be almost a homage to the artist.

Pastiche is not just associated with modern art, advertising and commercial art of the 20th and 21st centuries. In the 16th century, some of Pieter Bruegel the Elder's early works were almost certainly a pastiche of Hieronymus Bosch's paintings. For example, Bruegel's work, "Mad Meg (Dulle Griet)", is very Bosch-like in composition. This imitation of style was intentional. Bruegel intended to replicate the imagination of Bosch as much as possible. Both artists painted similar subject matter as well as complex compositions.

It is common today to find artists and designers using the art of pastiche to make something new from something old. By borrowing a recognisable style from the past, or using it as inspiration, artists can create a new work or design that not only arouses a response from the viewer, but connects them to something familiar. By giving something old a modern twist, it creates an new feeling that may stimulate, surprise, intrigue, provoke, delight, or amuse the audience. Pastiche connects us to something familiar whether it is an image, composition, style, or technique.

Pastiche is characteristic of modern popular culture and is common in the images that bombard us daily in advertising. In some cases it is almost a case of over-exposure. In the age of mass media we see virtually too many images, especially in advertising. In many ways it is just about impossible to be original.

The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci is such an iconic image that nearly everyone recognises it. It is often pastiched in advertising as well as more traditional art because the artist knows that people will make the connection. It is a work that has inspired many artists and designers to create works. Modern technology has also opened a whole new world for possible interpretations of this well known image.

Artworks and designs that copy the style of another work, or combine various, distinct styles together into one work are now generally acknowledged and accepted. Pastiche is all about style, and creating something new and different by copying the tone and feeling of the original. It's almost a paradox in that artists should look to the past sometimes in order to move into the future and create new original works.