{"id":1761276,"date":"2026-02-12T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1761276"},"modified":"2026-02-12T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T21:00:00","slug":"szilveszter-makos-surreal-photographs-reconstruct-the-boundaries-of-portraiture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1761276","title":{"rendered":"Szilveszter Mak\u00f3\u2019s Surreal Photographs Reconstruct the Boundaries of Portraiture"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1801\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/makonew-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"an editorial flat-lay portrait by Szilveszter Mak\u00f3 of a woman in an ornate gown. the background consists of a checkered floor and two dimensional silhouettes of a man and arms reaching for her\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All images \u00a9 Szilveszter Mak\u00f3, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Szilveszter Mak\u00f3\u2019s Surreal Photographs Reconstruct the Boundaries of Portraiture<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-02-12T14:49:06-06:00\">February 12, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-photography\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/photography\/\" rel=\"tag\">Photography<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/jandres\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Jackie Andres<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a 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href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#f5ca8680979f909681c8a68f9c998390868f819087d0c7c5b8949ed0b6c6d0b7c6d0c7c286d0c7c5a6808787909499d0c7c5a59d9a819a928794859d86d0c7c5a790969a9b868187809681d0c7c5819d90d0c7c5b79a809b9194879c9086d0c7c59a93d0c7c5a59a878187949c81808790d3949885ce979a918cc8a68f9c998390868f819087d0c7c5b8949ed0b6c6d0b7c6d0c7c286d0c7c5a6808787909499d0c7c5a59d9a819a928794859d86d0c7c5a790969a9b868187809681d0c7c5819d90d0c7c5b79a809b9194879c9086d0c7c59a93d0c7c5a59a878187949c81808790d0c7c5d0b0c7d0cdc5d0ccc1d0c7c59d81818586d0c6b4d0c7b3d0c7b3828282db819d9c869c86969a999a86869499db969a98d0c7b3c7c5c7c3d0c7b3c5c7d0c7b3868f9c998390868f819087d898949e9ad0c7b3\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"469368\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/szilvesztermako\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Szilveszter Mak\u00f3<\/a>\u2019s enigmatic photographs carry layers of mystery and introspection. Standing inside curious block-like backdrops and lain against two-dimensional fields of color and texture, his subjects seamlessly meld into stories in which every detail carries intention.<\/p>\n<p>Taking inspiration from art history, the Milan-based artist references <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/surreal\/\">Surrealism<\/a> and grotesque art through his use of chiaroscuro effects via light exploration and contrasting earth tones. Similar to 20th-century Surrealist paintings, Mak\u00f3\u2019s images delve into uncanny realms and evoke a dreamlike sense of unfettered imagination. It\u2019s no surprise that the photographer was once a painter and has suggested that these impulses may be a subconscious homage to his earlier chapters.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/makonew-3-960x1200.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-469368\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/makonew-3-960x1200.jpg\" alt=\"an editorial portrait by Szilveszter Mak\u00f3 of Bad Bunny wearing a a pava and suit covered in dried palm leaves\" class=\"wp-image-469602\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>Mystery presents itself in Mak\u00f3\u2019s photos through tactility that\u2019s difficult to pinpoint. Subtle but moody elements\u2014such as grain and halation surrounding moments of brightness\u2014point to the possibility of filmic qualities achieved by chemical reaction, rather than digital manipulation. While the photographer doesn\u2019t divulge his specific post-production techniques, he explains, \u201cI would not call it a secret but more of an unorthodox process\u2026 those who understand the history of analog photography could probably recognize what I am doing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mak\u00f3\u2019s strong sense of style can be attributed to his distinct mise en sc\u00e8ne, consisting of handmade props made with recycled materials, carefully constructed theatrical environments, and bold yet often sculptural garments that add visual interest through elongated lines and exaggerated silhouettes. Often highlighting designer pieces by Schapiarelli, Maison Margiela, Prada, Bottega, and more, the artist has also teamed up with more commercial names, such as Zara, and most recently, Adidas.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we come into the studio, everything that my team and I have prepared, like the props, the costumes, and the designs, pile up in one room,\u201d Mak\u00f3 shares in a conversation with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artribune.com\/professioni-e-professionisti\/who-is-who\/2025\/10\/intervista-fotografo-szilveszster-mako\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Artribune<\/em><\/a>. \u201cI like to see it all collide. As what we imagine beforehand does not always want to come together in the way we planned.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/newmako-8-960x1070.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-469368\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1070\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/newmako-8-960x1070.jpg\" alt=\"an editorial portrait by Szilveszter Mak\u00f3 of a woman in a cube posing against a stool\" class=\"wp-image-469615\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<p>One of the most distinguishable motifs across the artist\u2019s images is a box. This cubic element appears in many forms\u2014a confined space that models find themselves in, the repeating shapes that make up checkered floors, house-inspired headpieces, or, more recently, its evolution into a two-dimensional compositional element in playful flat-lay photographs. \u201cFor me, the box is both a restriction and a liberation,\u201d Mak\u00f3 notes. \u201cIt centralizes the host whilst simultaneously amplifying it, preventing energy from scattering across the frame.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While the box\u2019s formally geometric characteristics lend itself to an evolution of order, structure, and guidance, the photographer also enthusiastically welcomes spontaneous moments, explaining that \u201ccontrol makes images cold and calculated, leaving much without meaning. A shoot should breathe, it should evolve, it should shock even those who are making it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Although Mak\u00f3 regularly works with a slew of well-known celebrities\u2014such as Elle Fanning, Bad Bunny, Michelle Yeoh, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, and more\u2014he possesses a unique ability to transcend the veil of fame, artfully translating even the most recognizable faces into something entirely of his own. He shares, \u201cI\u00a0do not treat celebrities differently from anyone else. We enter the room as equals. The set is not a hierarchy, it is a space where we work together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>See more from the photographer on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/szilvesztermako?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>, and find his images published in editions of <em>Vogue, The Cut, Acne Paper, Vanity Fair, GQ, <\/em>and more.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/mako-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-469368\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1346\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/mako-7.jpg\" alt=\"an editorial portrait by Szilveszter Mak\u00f3 of Willem Dafoe standing in front of a hanging white sheet, wearing a house-shaped headpiece around his face.\" class=\"wp-image-469349\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/mako-12.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-469368\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/mako-12.jpg\" alt=\"an editorial flat-lay portrait by Szilveszter Mak\u00f3 of Elle Fanning posed next to a giant sardine. She and the fish stand atop a table that sits on a checkered floor.\" class=\"wp-image-469353\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/makonew-6-960x1193.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-469368\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1193\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/makonew-6-960x1193.jpg\" alt=\"an editorial portrait by Szilveszter Mak\u00f3 of a model in a large garment shaped like a paper hat\" class=\"wp-image-469606\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/makonew-7-960x1199.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-469368\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1199\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/makonew-7-960x1199.jpg\" alt=\"an editorial flat-lay portrait by Szilveszter Mak\u00f3 of a woman in a sculptural dress and pointy shoes positioned in front of the arms of a two dimensional silhouette of a man\" class=\"wp-image-469613\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/makonew-5-960x1197.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-469368\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1197\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/makonew-5-960x1197.jpg\" alt=\"an editorial portrait by Szilveszter Mak\u00f3 of a model leaning against a checkered table with drawings of dishes\" class=\"wp-image-469607\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/mako-11.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-469368\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/mako-11.jpg\" alt=\"an editorial portrait by Szilveszter Mak\u00f3 of the backside of a woman wearing a Schiaparelli garment, emphasizing an exaggerated silhouette.\" class=\"wp-image-469352\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div 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Standing inside curious block-like backdrops and lain against two-dimensional fields of color and texture, his subjects seamlessly meld [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1761276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1761276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1761276"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1761276\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1761276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1761276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1761276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}