Julia Dean in ‘Giant’ 2013

Curator: Here we have Felice House’s striking oil on canvas from 2013, titled "Julia Dean in 'Giant'". Editor: Oh, I like this a lot! It’s got this moody, almost cinematic feel to it. She’s lounging like she owns the world—and that house in the background! Is that supposed to be the set of "Giant", the film? It looks haunting, doesn’t it? Curator: It is indeed meant to invoke the movie “Giant.” The entire series riffs on film stills from classic Westerns, replacing male actors with female ones. House subtly interrogates historical narratives of gender and power through these recast portraits. Editor: Clever. She completely flips the script—literally! The house almost feels like a prop, and I love the way it contrasts with her relaxed pose. But those red boots? They demand attention! They're kind of rebellious, like she’s ready to kick down some doors. Or maybe just put her feet up wherever she pleases. Curator: Exactly. Those details are meticulously chosen. Beyond pure aesthetics, these works prompt conversation around underrepresentation, prompting consideration of women’s overlooked contributions within film history and within contemporary power structures generally. Editor: I totally get that. It's not just about swapping faces; it’s about changing the entire dynamic. Giving women a starring role where they get to call the shots—even if it's just in a painting. There's an assertive stillness in the portrait. The boots, the outfit… it speaks to someone carving their own place, against old-fashioned buildings and ideologies. It all makes it really powerful. I bet Julia Dean would have been the real giant if she was calling the shots! Curator: The piece also engages the history of portraiture and challenges conventions in relation to representation. The pose and setting reference classical tropes. The image complicates and reimagines traditional displays of gender, celebrity, and class, through both appropriation and intervention. Editor: It is truly evocative, a thought-provoking statement about agency and legacy, cleverly embedded within a familiar and striking format. And honestly, makes me want a pair of red cowboy boots... Curator: Absolutely, its genius lies in its subtlety and clever subversion of expectations, so it has really given us something to talk about today.