Photographic Influence on Degas Work
What, if any impact did photography play in the role of arts ‘evolution’, in particular, what impact did photography have in the works of the impressionist painters. Two obviously conflicting opinions arise through texts by ‘Aaron Scharf’ and ‘Kirk Vanerdoe’. Scharf argues that the impact of ‘snapshot photography’ and the invention and wide distribution of portable camera’s had a significant influence on the works of the painter ‘Degas’. Vanerdoe takes the opportunity to question what makes an influence significant, and tends to see the creation of Impressionism stem from earlier art movements. Then comes the question, what, if any arguments are valid, what arguments are opinions and what can be sieved down to fact.
The truth of it all is that many of these opinions that are displayed can neither be proved nor disproved, and therefore any analysis must be taken with a grain of salt.
However it appears as though Vanerdoe has taken the less hospitable route, resulting at times to personal attacks, as well as blanket statements of which may not answer a question raised by Scharf, but rather simply a personal attack. It is in these statements we see a very passionate Vanerdoe, but also lose faith in his ability to keep together a reasoned and structured argument. Vanerdoe’s beginning argument for example, ‘¹this line of thinking however is inaccurate and misleading’ the basis for his essay, and way of thinking to come. It is from this we see Vanerdoe try and reason that, photographical influence isn’t substantial enough, yet no attempt at defining substantial has been made, that therefore leads me to conclude that, substantiality in the case of Vanerdoe’s essay must continue as a buzz-word. I would asses the word substantial as the dictionary does ‘Considerable in importance’ and therefore Vanerdoe considers that the photographic influence is not considerable in importance. What levels of significance then does photography play in the role of art work of Impressionism and in particular Degas?
So one would then at this point, try and define, to ones self exactly what constitutes a substantial impact. I would put forward that a substantial impact would be one, which remnants are visible through the completed work. Substantiality would then be based on whether or not the aesthetic or meaning of the photograph still influences. Therefore I decree that substantiality can be undervalued, but not overvalued. That would send me in the direction of Scharf’s argument.
... find the authors’ of my articles arguments very convincing. By weaving both visual and literature evidence together the authors support their arguments almost scientifically. The articles go into more depth than the Gardner text book. Gardner does not provide as much contextual evidence to support his arguments. In this manner the articles I read are a more progressive form of art history. Also, Gardner’s text discusses Witz’s intense focus on realism, but does not discuss his important departures from realism. In actuality, Witz’s departures from realism represent the most significant aspects of the painting. Although we have learned to not read into a work too much, Witz’s hyper deliberate nature requires attention to every detail and is well suited to more than surface level analysis. My analysis of the painting reflects, and supports the author’s conclusions.
The United States Army, in its current state, is a profession of arms. In order to be considered a profession, the organization must have an ethical code rooted in values, strong trust with its clients, and be comprised of experts within the trade. These experts are constantly developing the trade for the present and the future and hold the same shared view of their trade culture.
The photomontages created by David Hockney are dramastically different from other artists pieces. Simply, this is because Hockney shows his view of the world as realistic as there can be when it comes to artwork. In photomontages there are various ideas, themes, and pictures combined as one piece of art. His aims are to capture motion within multiple snapshots. The goal is to prove that in a one point perspective piece an individual does not see an event occurring in frames. But, in Hockney’s photomontages the main goal is to let the audience see what a human eye really sees when analyzing a scene or event. In pieces of artwork like the “Jour de pluie à Paris” by Gustave Caillebotte that was created by using one point perspective there is only one visual. The visual it shows is of a street. The goal is to see how a community comes together by just analyzing one street. In Hockney’s visuals the goal is to see all of the little things the human eye ignores as it quickly glances at scences.
In order to understand a profession, the Army White Paper gives us clear definitions of “The Profession of Arms” . The profession of arms. The Army is American Professional of Arms, a vacation comprised of experts certified in the ethical application of land combat power, serving under civilian authority, entrusted to defend the constitution and the rights and interests of the American people.
The 18th century is well known for its complex artistic movements such as Romantism and Neo-classical. The leading style Rococo thrived from 1700-1775 and was originated from the French words rocaille and coquille which meant “rock” and “shell”; used to decorate the Baroque gardens1. Identified as the age of “Enlightenment”, philosophers would ignite their ideas into political movements1. Associated with this movement is England’s John Locke who advanced the concept of “empiricism”. This denotes that accepting knowledge of matters of fact descends from experience and personal involvement1. Locke’s concept assisted the improvements of microscopes and telescopes allowing art students in the French academy to observe real life1. Science and experience influenced painting more so in Neo-Classicalism. Locke fought for people’s rights and the power or “contract” between the ruler and the ruled. Reasoning that “the Light in Enlightenment referred to the primacy of reason and intellect…and a belief in progress and in the human ability to control nature”1. Hence, the commence of experimental paintings such as Joseph Wright’s (1734-1797) oil on canvas painting: Fig.1 An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump. This image was developed through science by placing a bird in glass container and pumping air to see the effects it would have on the bird (White cockatoo)1. Throughout the late 18th and early 19th century in Western Europe, Neo-Classical art became the “true Style” and was accepted by the French Revolution under Louis XIV. Neo-Classical art was a reaction to Rococo’s light hearted, humour and emotion filled pieces.
It also seeks to understand the task of the military and what separates the Army from other occupations (Griffiths, 2008). The Army Profession of Arms is composed of experts who are entrusted with application of ethics in the land combat power and then serve under the authority of a civilian and are also trusted with the duty of the constitution, interests and rights of the people of the United States of America. For example, an Army to a profession of arms calls for the responsibility of executing duties and serving the people of the United States of America while upholding the constitution. The aspects of professionalism are developed through extensive training and
The article Artists Mythologies and Media Genius, Madness and Art History (1980) by Griselda Pollock is a forty page essay where Pollock (1980), argues and explains her views on the crucial question, "how art history works" (Pollock, 1980, p.57). She emphasizes that there should be changes to the practice of art history and uses Van Gogh as a major example in her study. Her thesis is to prove that the meaning behind artworks should not be restricted only to the artist who creates it, but also to realize what kind of economical, financial, social situation the artist may have been in to influence the subject that is used. (Pollock, 1980, pg. 57) She explains her views through this thesis and further develops this idea by engaging in scholarly debates with art historians and researcher, and objecting to how they claim there is a general state of how art is read. She structures her paragraphs in ways that allows her to present different kinds of evidences from a variety sources while using a formal yet persuasive tone of voice to get her point across to the reader.
It appears to me that pictures have been over-valued; held up by a blind admiration as ideal things, and almost as standards by which nature is to be judged rather than the reverse; and this false estimate has been sanctioned by the extravagant epithets that have been applied to painters, and "the divine," "the inspired," and so forth. Yet in reality, what are the most sublime productions of the pencil but selections of some of the forms of nature, and copies of a few of her evanescent effects, and this is the result, not of inspiration, but of long and patient study, under the instruction of much good sense…
...d detachment can be small or great, however, all images, inclusive of photographs that is inclusive of the artist understanding while creating the image. We may therefore, concluded that artistic work are based on the ideals of the artist involved but what one want to read from them depends on that individual’s perception to the image and what he or she intends to see from those arts.
Webster’s dictionary defines the word profession as a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill. Many Soldiers would not consider the Army as a profession but a way of life. Some think the word profession belongs to everyday jobs like a plumber, mechanic, or doctor. Dr. Don M. Snider stated “the Army is a profession because of the expert work it produces, because the people in the Army develop themselves to be professionals, and because the Army certifies them as such” (Snider, D. M. 2008). In October 2010, the Secretary of the Army directed the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) to lead an Army wide assessment of the state of the Army Profession. We have been at war as a Country for over a decade and the Army wanted to know how to shape the future of the Army as a profession and the effects the past decade had on our profession.
Although both artists are of the Impressionist Movement, Degas and Monet started on very contrary bases in their approach to their production of painting and such. However, Monet influenced Degas into adapting his art to fit it into the Impressionist stereotype. Degas’ influence over Monet was minimal to non-existent putting aside his decision to add other colours to his palette. Since Monet was the leader of the Impressionists, this can be expected. If extensively examined, Degas’ later works and Monet’s works can be comparable; if not approach or style then in paint and pastel application.
In this essay, I shall try to examine how great a role colour played in the evolution of Impressionism. Impressionism in itself can be seen as a linkage in a long chain of procedures, which led the art to the point it is today. In order to do so, colour in Impressionism needs to be placed within an art-historical context for us to see more clearly the role it has played in the evolution of modern painting. In the late eighteenth century, for example, ancient Greek and Roman examples provided the classical sources in art. At the same time, there was a revolt against the formalism of Neo-Classicism. The accepted style was characterised by appeal to reason and intellect, with a demand for a well-disciplined order and restraint in the work. The decisive Romantic movement emphasized the individual’s right in self-expression, in which imagination and emotion were given free reign and stressed colour rather than line; colour can be seen as the expression for emotion, whereas line is the expression of rationality. Their style was painterly rather than linear; colour offered a freedom that line denied. Among the Romanticists who had a strong influence on Impressionism were Joseph Mallord William Turner and Eugéne Delacroix. In Turner’s works, colour took precedence over the realistic portrayal of form; Delacroix led the way for the Impressionists to use unmixed hues. The transition between Romanticism and Impressionism was provided by a small group of artists who lived and worked at the village of Barbizon. Their naturalistic style was based entirely on their observation and painting of nature in the open air. In their natural landscape subjects, they paid careful attention to the colourful expression of light and atmosphere. For them, colour was as important as composition, and this visual approach, with its appeal to emotion, gradually displaced the more studied and forma, with its appeal to reason.
It is considered a rare and unique talent when an artist is able to convey emotions and feelings through their mediums, and may possibly be even more rare and coveted when they can provoke emotions from their pieces. Though unintentional, Edgar Degas painted a scene that would be considered controversial and even disgusting for years to come and would inspire debate against the infamous green drink, absinthe. L'Absinthe by Edgar Degas is a historically referenced piece that highlights the split opinions of modern art and unintentionally shows the emotional effects that come from the use of absinthe. Originally painted between the years 1875 and 1876, L’Absinthe was modelled after two well-known French social figures, Ellen Andrée, an actress, and Marcellin Desboutin, another local artist, both friends of Degas at the time. Credited as one of the original impressionists, Degas used a barely there, almost smudgy brush pattern and utilized a yellow and white base palette with which he pulled into darker, dingier tones, ranging from muddy yellows to black.
In this essay, I will contrast and compare the two art movements, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism. I will be concentrating on the works of the two leading artists of these styles Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh.
There are many reasons why the Army should be considered a profession. The Army trains and certifies its members, has continuing development of its personnel, and contains many professions within it. Much like doctors and lawyers, the Army requires each member to complete training and certification. The Army focuses on development of its personnel to maintain skills important to the profession. Aside from the profession itself, the Army contains many other professions. The U.S. Army has and will continue to maintain and advance the profession through study and intellectual development.