Two allies

I am treating myself tonight: I’ll write something totally unrelated to anything I am supposed to doing at the moment. To be honest, writing here has always felt like a treat. Maybe because it’s an activity that doesn’t go anywhere, a hobby, carried on for its sake. Only allowed to write here when I’ve done a satisfying amount of work-work, college-work etc. Sadly, it doesn’t happen very often Unless I cheat. Which I do sometimes.

Ok, the two allies now: photography and Impressionists – two of my favourite subjects. I sort of felt there might be something going on between them, but I just couldn’t see how it could happen. Discovered the link tonight.

We’re all aware of the Impressionist struggle, of the nineteenth century public failure to recognise innovation and eventually of the final victory. Victory that came with the help of two allies – one of them being photography. This ally helped people to see the world with different eyes, helped them to appreciate rapid strokes caring less for detail, but for the general impression of the whole. Helped them to look differently at paintings, as there was photography now for exact reproductions and detail.

The rise of Impressionism and the development of the portable camera/snapshot began during the same years. And photography pushed artists further in their exploration; they had to go where photography couldn’t follow them. Same happened to Modernists: different quality of paint, different mediums and materials, impression of three dimensions and effects that could not come through in photos. It all looks like they’re trying to resist photographic reproduction!