Tom Hunter English photographer Country: Great Britain

Biography of Tom Hunter

Tom Hunter is an English photographer born in London, United Kingdom, in 1965. After completing school, he enrolled in the photography department at the London College of Printing, which is now known as the London College of Communication. Hunter initially worked for several newspapers but gained wide attention in the late 1990s when he began recreating classical paintings in a new light.

Hunter's approach differs from other similar experiments as he reconstructs not just the paintings but their narratives. In his works, the despair and fear captured in famous masterpieces are unexpectedly transposed onto the urban landscapes of London. His models are troubled teenagers, friends, and chance encounters, in whom the artist saw a resemblance to characters from world paintings.

One of Hunter's most famous reconstructions is the photograph "Woman Reading a Possession Order," inspired by Johannes Vermeer's painting "Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window." Interestingly, in Hunter's version, a nursing baby lies next to the girl instead of a basket of apples, symbolizing the fallen state of humanity. The title of the photograph, "Possession Order," reflects the somber irony of the custody laws in England.

Another notable work is his reinterpretation of John Everett Millais' Pre-Raphaelite painting "Ophelia." While Hunter's reconstruction bears an almost absolute resemblance, the pale appearance of Ophelia is not a result of madness due to her father's death but rather a consequence of drug use.

In total, Hunter has presented around 20 works, which have been exhibited at the National Gallery. In 2010, he was honored as an honorary member of The Royal Photographic Society for his contributions to photography. In 1998, he received the Kobal Photographic Portrait Award for his reconstruction of a Vermeer painting.

In June 2007, Hunter participated in a group exhibition alongside other artists to draw attention to the living conditions in impoverished neighborhoods of London.