What if Batman was created in the 16th century? Photographer uses elaborate costumes to re-imagine superheroes in Flemish paintings

By MailOnline Reporter

Published: 12:12 EST, 21 November 2014 | Updated: 13:35 EST, 24 November 2014

A French photographer has taken America's favorite comic book heroes to the next level, re-imagining the likes of Batman, Catwoman and Superman as Flemish paintings.

Sacha Goldberger enlisted 100 people for the project, including five costume designers, seven make-up artists and five hairdressers, who helped him mix icons of American culture with Flemish school painting styles.

The collection, titled Super-Flemish, which pays homage to artists like Jan Vermeer and Jan van Eyck, premiered at the Grand Palais in Paris last weekend.

French photographer Sacha Goldberger has taken comic book heroes to the next level, re-imagining the likes of Batman, Catwoman and Superman as Flemish paintings

French photographer Sacha Goldberger has taken comic book heroes to the next level, re-imagining the likes of Batman, Catwoman and Superman as Flemish paintings

'Sacha’s discovery of these characters, which goes back to childhood, gave birth to a desire to re-appropriate them, to take them back to a time forming the cornerstone of modern western art,' the exhibition's description explained. 

The Hulk, Spiderman, and The Joker sit alongside Alice in Wonderland, the Avengers and even the characters of Star Wars in the series, with each stylized portrait featuring a carefully constructed period costume.

'The collection demonstrates the use of 17th century techniques counterpointing light and shadow to illustrate nobility and fragility of the super powerful of all times,' explains the exhibition release.

Mr Goldberger enlisted 100 people for the project, including five costume designers, seven make-up artists and five hairdressers, who helped him mix icons of American culture with Flemish school painting styles

Mr Goldberger enlisted 100 people for the project, including five costume designers, seven make-up artists and five hairdressers, who helped him mix icons of American culture with Flemish school painting styles

The collection, titled Super-Flemish, which pays homage to artists like Jan Vermeer and Jan van Eyck, premiered at the Grand Palais in Paris last weekend

The collection, titled Super-Flemish, which pays homage to artists like Jan Vermeer and Jan van Eyck, premiered at the Grand Palais in Paris last weekend

The Hulk, Spiderman, and The Joker sit alongside Alice in Wonderland, the Avengers (pictured) and even the characters of Star Wars in the series, with each portrait featuring a carefully constructed period costume

The Hulk, Spiderman, and The Joker sit alongside Alice in Wonderland, the Avengers (pictured) and even the characters of Star Wars in the series, with each portrait featuring a carefully constructed period costume

'The collection demonstrates the use of 17th century techniques counterpointing light and shadow to illustrate nobility and fragility of the super powerful of all times,' explains the exhibition release

'The collection demonstrates the use of 17th century techniques counterpointing light and shadow to illustrate nobility and fragility of the super powerful of all times,' explains the exhibition release

Mr Goldberger said that he has been incorporating super heroes into his art for the last five years, and three years ago he did a Flemish painting series

Mr Goldberger said that he has been incorporating super heroes into his art for the last five years, and three years ago he did a Flemish painting series

'It also invites you to celebrate the heroes of your childhood. These characters have become icons to reveal their humanity: tired of having to save the world without respite, promised to a destiny of endless immortality, forever trapped in their character.'

It continued: 'These images allow us to discover, under the patina of time, an unexpected melancholy of those who are to be invincible.', and a deliberately understated title. Here's Snow White:

Mr Goldberger said that he has been incorporating super heroes into his art for the last five years, and three years ago he did a Flemish painting series.

Mr Mr Goldberger added that the project was 'the work of a team. I am only the photographer. All my team is so professional and precious. Thank you to them'

Mr Mr Goldberger added that the project was 'the work of a team. I am only the photographer. All my team is so professional and precious. Thank you to them'

Alice in Wonderland poses next to a taxidermy White Rabbit  for the Super-Flemish series

Alice in Wonderland poses next to a taxidermy White Rabbit  for the Super-Flemish series

Snow White, set in the 15th Century, doesn't undero much of a transformation for the photo project

Snow White, set in the 15th Century, doesn't undero much of a transformation for the photo project

Merging the future and the past, Princess Leia poses with a Star Wars 'blaster' rifle

Merging the future and the past, Princess Leia poses with a Star Wars 'blaster' rifle

'This Super Flemish series is the conclusion of 5 years of work,' he said.

Mr Goldberger told Bored Panda that the major challenges he faced for the project were: 'How to find perfect super hero look-alikes?' and, 'What would the costume look like in the 15th, 16th centuries…?'

He added that the project was 'the work of a team. I am only the photographer. All my team is so professional and precious. Thank you to them.'

Yoda adds a ruff collar to his Star Wars ensemble

Yoda adds a ruff collar to his Star Wars ensemble

C-3PO is is given a cape and ruff cuffs, as well as a ruff collar, for the photo project

C-3PO is is given a cape and ruff cuffs, as well as a ruff collar, for the photo project

This Stormtrooper adds a suit to his metal armor for the photo project

This Stormtrooper adds a suit to his metal armor for the photo project

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