40 Roch

“It’s the combination of animal and human that creates my work. We are complementary in life, and so we are in my portraits.”

Martine Roch

My work is based on my love for both animals and photography.

It all started with the observation of animal expressions. Anybody

can see that sometimes animals are almost like humans. And, of

course, we all have an animal in us. I remember a friend of my

grandfather looking just like his dog! They had the same walk, the

same expressions, and even the same hairstyle. That was years

ago, but I still remember them together walking down the street.

So it’s the combination of animal and human that creates my work.

We are complementary in life, and so we are in my portraits.

The base of the image is one of the antique photographs that

I have collected for years. These old photographs have a soul.

I love the style of the costumes, the people’s postures, and the

décor, which is sometimes really gorgeous—I try to keep it as

much as I can. The images are hand-coloured from sepia. I take

the photos of the animals myself. My model is often Boudi, my

faithful Labrador (who is now 14 years old). I see animals with love

and respect, not with mockery.

When I make an image, I take time to get acquainted with the per-

sonage. So I imagine a little quote to go with the image, or only

a name to give to the character. My primary goal with my work is

to bring a smile to people’s face. Then I leave the public to react

however they feel when looking at the personages.

The Good Friend, 2011

Insomnia, 2009

42

The Boss, 2012

Good Bye, 2009

The Fashion Victim, 2011

The Aristocrat, 2011

The Explorer, 2010

Roch