Nostalgic imprint

I wondered if one could feel nostalgic for a time they never experienced. Many words exist to describe this sentiment, like the German "Sehnsucht", echoing the Portuguese "saudade". This wistful longing often arises when reflecting on a bygone era. Personally, I feel this kind of nostalgia for the early 19th century, enchanted by the imagery associated with it. Though this era is far from historically accurate in my mind, I enjoy escaping into its idealized vision. The artists I’ve selected for this reflection would populate my dream gallery, starting with the vibrant yellows of Caroline Delétoille, whose work delves into memory and remembrance. Nostalgia can also have a darker edge, as seen in the charcoal drawings of Samuel Martin, portraying an anonymized Hollywood star whose glory has faded. Then there’s the unsettling allure of Laurence Ory’s painted photographs, such as her Birds Are Born to Fly series, where masks evoke a sinister, Ensorian carnival atmosphere. Through the “visual similarity” tool, I discovered the work of Christophe Avella Bagur, whose style strongly reminds me of Vicious Circle by Polish artist Jacek Malczewski. For me, nostalgia is also tied to the tactile quality of VHS images, with their distinctive grain evoking a bygone era, as seen in Adrien Couvrat’s Villa Madama #2. Finally, nostalgia captures an ineffable longing to return to a place that no longer exists—or perhaps to a timeless elsewhere. This feeling resonates deeply in Elsa Broustet’s Insomnie, which connects to the mysterious world of artist Nicholas Kalmakoff.