I write this critique because I recently visited Barcelona and saw this picture and was very much charmed by it. It was an advertisement for Comfersa. The picture is all around in the subway of the city. I took a picture and loaded it up to flickr, but I didn't like my own picture, so I looked around to find the advertisement on the internet. Eventually I discovered the original here.

This picture is truly an eye-catcher. The red glove against the white and dark: everything leads you towards the eye. The eye is of a shiny metallic quality which makes it very intriguing. If you look close you can see what the eye sees.
The picture grabs your gaze and draws you in.
The red glove suggest blood and elegance. The metallic rose(being metallic and not red) makes a sort of contrasting point to the whole and mirrors the metallic of the eye. In fact you expect the rose to be red, but the red has been drawn away as if it went towards the glove. Just like the eye is strangely devoid of color.
The mouth is hidden.. the suggestion is strong. Would she have blood-red lips? Would they hide thirsty fangs? The darkness that borders the whole suggest night or perhaps a place of dark solitude. It isolates her though. Giving her the aspect of a loner. Someone who might mingle with the crowd.. but stills stand outside..

A picture like this is like a small story. It suggest more: a night at an opera house. A summer evening with dinner on a terrace somewhere overlooking a city: she dressed in a long elegant dress. The dress is dark, but not black. A touch of red or blue or green or purple.
The pressure of the fingers on the face suggest a moment of tension. Like you disturbed her at an intense moment. Anguish? Desire? Hunger?
The eye promises you things.. but you are not sure what.
It has a very vampire/femme fatale quality.

I think this picture would fit very much with the art of the world of darkness. I can be the cover of a book on about vampires, femme fatale's or many others..
As an advertisement it sort of failed perhaps.. precisely because it draws you in so much. I remember the name comfersa because it shows on the picture I made, not because of the advertisement.
If you place this picture at the end of a gallery.. it will force you to look at it and forget the other pictures. Just like the lady in the picture might herself. At the end of along hallway.. surrounded by paintings and pictures. A mesmerizing statue.


I would say very well done..

For vision, technique and impact I give it high marks. Originality I find harder to determine. It is original, but there are a lot of vampire like pictures out there. I sort of hoover in indecision.
I don't give full fives.. what can I give if you make even better pictures?.. No doubt you have a gift for it.

Who are you, beautiful sinner?
Lips red as the rose,
Skin pale as the moonlight,
And eyes as blue as winter,
As cool as ice.
You decieve the deeds you have made,
With those who were dear to you,
And burnt them to ashes.
You took those ashes,
And threw them into the seas of sins.
Who are you, beautiful sinner?
Consumed by the flames of lust.
Your innocent soul shattered by the darkness.
Pink innocence turns into red blood,
Flooding the floor.
Waters freeze,
Like your topaz blue eyes.
You break every soul's heart,
You scar them for life.
Who are you, beautiful sinner?
Tell me who you are,
And why you are here.