The photographs of themselves that people like are only a fraction of those which exist. Ticks on contact sheets are outnumbered by angry crosses. As the number of images of the famous is huge, the approved picture is always under threat from the tide of those which are not. Faces, which are marketable pieces of personal property, are vulnerable. The more successful the projection of the desired version has been, the more newsworthy is the picture of a tear-stained cheek, tonsil-revealing laugh, a few new jowls, or just a glum glance. Defences uncalled for in the days of the painted portrait - dark glasses or a raised newspaper - may be thrown up. Privacy laws could change things, but for many years celebrities have fought attacks on the integrity of the image with yet more pictures of the approved kind.

LRB 15 April 2004 | PDF Download