A glimpse into the lives and rituals of centenarian women, whose beauty is rarely acknowledged
This piece was part of the GroundTruth Project series Emerging Photographers.
When I started shooting this story, I wished to talk about elderly womens conditions in general, but I had no clear idea about what angle I was going to take. I took pictures of nothing and everything surrounding these centenarians from the Montrgie region in Qubec, Canada. But one thing kept occurring: every single woman I photographed wanted to groom herself to make sure she would look good in my pictures. This is how it became a story about beauty.
I became interested in the efforts that these women put (or didnt put) into looking beautiful, and the challenges that they face in their old age. I asked them about youth, ageing, feminism, sexuality, charm, appearance, love, and I documented their beauty rituals.
Visiting Marie-Berthe Paquette, the woman in the first photograph, was an unbelievable spectacle. She likes to be the center of attention and is willing to do just about everything to make her audience burst out laughing. Every time I visited her, she told me funny stories, sang and danced. In her portrait, she is dancing in a sexy and provocative way for the sake of her audience (myself and two family members).
I personally find myself beautiful, and when I dont, I do my best anyways! I like to have my hair neatly styled and wear dresses, jewelry and other accessories. Ive always paid attention to my appearance. In fact, Im known as la fra”che (the trendy lady). Marie-Berthe Paquette, 105 years old, in Montral, Qubec.
I actually care more about beauty today than when I was young. I like to dress rather well, in pretty, simple and practical dresses. I put on foundation and perfume in the morning, lipstick after each meal, and I go to the hairdressers every week. Im also careful not to eat foods that are either too rich or too sweet. Its important to not let oneself go. I used to enjoy wearing necklaces, but I can no longer attach them, so I gave up. Solange Racine, 101 years old, in Granby, Qubec.
To me, the third photo (below) is particularly touching. Laure Saucier, the centenarian in the picture, was very sick and weak but also very peaceful and serene. She didnt have the energy to move or talk, and even though she used to be a very stylish woman, I doubt she cared about the way she looked any more. But even though Saucier seemed distanced from the physical world, her daughter, Lise Provost, continued to make sure that her mother looked good: that her nails and hair were done and she had jewelry and lipstick on. She knew this used to be important to her mother and wanted to honor her. Since they couldnt communicate verbally any more, these rituals were their way to stay close together.
Through these portraits, shot in 2016, I want to question societys obsession with youth and beauty standards, and to give a voice to these women whose beauty is rarely acknowledged.
She was very stylish and competitive. She was in love with my father and I think she worried about not being good enough. She always wore lipstick, blush, high heels, earrings, perfume and curled her hair. Shed rub baby oil on herself and bought Madame Avons rejuvenating creams. In the evening she went to bed with cotton strips wrapped under her chin and fastened on the top of her head, hoping to lift and tauten her chin and cheeks. Lise Provost (right) talking about her mother, Laure Saucier (left), in Acton Vale, Qubec. Saucier passed away in 2016 at 101 years old.
I definitely find myself as ugly. Beauty fades as we get older. Our noses and ears get bigger, our gait changes, we get hunched backs. Some are worse off than me, but Im not beautiful at all. Still, I enjoy life and I look forward to the future, even if its a short one when youre 100 years old. Jeannette Ballard, 100 years old, in Granby, Qubec.
When I was young I had long hair, nice legs and curves. Young ladies today all strive to be skinny, but I think that real beauty is natural beauty. We are who we are, and thats all that matters. Anne-Marie Pronovost, 100 years old, in Sutton, Qubec. Pronovost died in 2017.
The word beauty invokes great classic French authors, and music. When I was young, I always had my nose in a book and I wrote. I dont mean to brag, but people envied my writing skills. I like Mozart a lot, but its Beethoven who really makes my heart sing. Madeleine Beaugrand Champagneage, 102 years old, in St-Bruno-de-Montarville, Qubec. Beaugrand Champagneage passed away in 2017.
Even though we constantly told her that she was beautiful, my mom had always found herself ugly. She often said that she had a monkey face and that she didnt like her plumpness. My mother regularly dieted. There were stretches where we went without potatoes, bread or desserts. She also tried different weight loss pills. She wore girdles and corsets that shed buy at Mrs Dinovitzers store. I think her weight had always been her biggest fixation. Provost talking about her mother, Saucier.
When I was young, like all women, I wanted to be attractive. I curled my hair, wore the beautiful outfits my mom made for me and suffered in high heels. Still, I never wore makeup; I felt like it was fake. I married my husband because he was handsome, which I ended up regretting. He wasnt a very good partner and I ended up kicking him out. Rather than maintaining physical beauty, which is vain, I advise young women to cultivate the beauty that surrounds them. You can tend a garden, draw, play music, etc. Its important to be kind, independent and constantly educate yourself. Beaugrand Champagne.
As a young lady, I could not afford to be frivolous. We were poor and had to work all the time. We had to take part in day-to-day chores, pick the raspberries, take care of the babies, cook, help with the harvest, do housework and bathe the children and all of that without electricity. We didnt have time to think about beauty. Solange Racine, 101 years old, in Granby, Qubec.
My husband was a very good-looking man. He had beautiful curly hair, and was nicknamed Willy la coche (Willy the good-looker). It was very important for him to be always well dressed. When he went out to work at the lumber camp, hed sell his suit and buy a brand new one when he returned. On the other hand, he was a flirt and a bit fickle: he loved all women and drank too much. But its important to be able to forgive. Anne-Marie Pronovost, 100 years old, in Sutton, Qubec.
Of course Id rather be good-looking rather than ugly! But back when I was young, I couldnt be bothered with beauty. It was vanity. It was a sin. What really mattered was the family, putting food on the table and making sure that the children were bathed and clothed. I am blessed because my daughter is the one now taking care of me. She welcomed me in her home 20 years ago and I am still there. Family is all that really matters. Isabelle Gagn (left)Ž, 103 years old, in Clermont, Qubec, with her daughter (right).
Im a very rational and level-headed person, and Im not very sensitive to beauty or art. I come from a very poor family. Spending money at the hairdressers or on unnecessary beauty accessories was completely out of the question. I only sewed by necessity. For instance, I made dresses for my sisters using cotton pouches that had been used for storing sugar. Still, Ive always paid a particular attention to my hair. Alida Provost, 101 years old, Granby, Qubec. Provost passed away in 2016.
My father was a painter and craftsman and he shared his love of art with me. I believe that everything that is artistic is beautiful: theater, picture frames, poems, paintings, flowers, songs. In a person, its the character, the silhouette, the smile and the eyes that count. That said, my biggest regret is not getting an education. Doors open for you when youre educated. Otherwise you feel shame. Regardless of the situation, I would advise young women to educate themselves. Marie-Berthe Paquette, 102 years old, in Montral, Qubec.
Arianne Clment began dabbling in documentary photography while working as a journalist in the Canadian Arctic. Her work with the elderly has been exhibited internationally and has won many grants, prizes and awards. For more, click here.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/21/centenarian-women-beauty-youth-aging-love
