11.2 The impact of photography on art and society

Photography revolutionized art and society in the 19th century. It challenged traditional notions of artistic skill and creativity while offering unprecedented accuracy in capturing reality. This mechanical medium blurred lines between art and utility, reshaping how people perceived and documented the world.

The impact of photography extended far beyond the art world. It shaped public opinion, influenced collective memory, and democratized image-making. From war documentation to celebrity portraits, photography became a powerful tool for communication and social change, setting the stage for our modern visual culture.

Photography's Challenge to Art

The Mechanical Nature of Photography

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• Photography's mechanical nature captured reality with unprecedented accuracy and detail
• This challenged the idea of art as a purely subjective and interpretive medium (painting, sculpture)
• The ease and speed of creating photographic images contrasted with the time-consuming process of painting
  • Questioned the value placed on artistic skill and labor in traditional art forms
• Photography's reproducibility challenged the notion of art as a unique, original object
  • Raised questions about authorship and authenticity in the art world

Photography's Role in Science and Documentation

• Photography was used for scientific and documentary purposes (recording specimens, archiving events)
  • Blurred the lines between art and utility, leading to debates about the artistic merit of the medium
• Photography's ability to capture detail and represent the world with apparent objectivity
  • Challenged the role of the artist as an interpreter and mediator of reality
  • Raised questions about the subjectivity and creativity involved in artistic representation

Photography and Public Perception

Shaping Public Opinion and Collective Memory

• Photography's perceived objectivity and ability to document reality made it a powerful tool for shaping public opinion and collective memory
• Photographs of war, such as those from the American Civil War (1861-1865) and the Crimean War (1853-1856)
  • Brought the realities of conflict to a wider audience and influenced public sentiment
  • Helped to create a shared visual experience of these historical events
• Social reform movements used photography to expose societal ills and advocate for change
  • Photographers documented poverty, child labor, and other social issues (Jacob Riis, Lewis Hine)
  • Images were used to raise awareness and garner support for reform efforts

Photography and Celebrity Culture

• Photographic portraits of celebrities and public figures helped create and disseminate their public image
  • Shaped how they were perceived by the masses and contributed to the rise of celebrity culture
• The use of photography in journalism and the rise of illustrated newspapers and magazines (Harper's Weekly, The Illustrated London News)
  • Made visual information more accessible to the public, influencing how events and issues were understood and remembered
  • Photographs became an integral part of news reporting and storytelling

Photography vs Other Visual Arts

Influence on Painting and Printmaking

• Many painters incorporated photographic elements into their work
  • Gustave Courbet and Édouard Manet used unconventional compositions and a focus on contemporary subjects
  • Edgar Degas and Thomas Eakins used photography as a tool for studying motion and anatomy, informing their paintings and sculptures
• The Pictorialist movement in photography sought to elevate the medium to the status of fine art
  • Emulated the aesthetics and techniques of painting, such as soft focus and manipulation of negatives
  • Photographers like Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen aimed to demonstrate photography's artistic potential

Reproduction and Dissemination of Art

• Photography's ability to reproduce works of art accurately and inexpensively had a significant impact
  • Increased the dissemination and accessibility of art to a wider audience
  • Influenced the art market and the way art was consumed and collected
• Collaborations between photographers and artists demonstrated the potential for cross-pollination between the mediums
  • Julia Margaret Cameron and the Pre-Raphaelites created photographs inspired by literary and artistic themes
  • These collaborations showcased the creative possibilities of combining photography with other art forms

Democratization of Image-Making

Increased Accessibility of Portraiture

• The invention of the daguerreotype (1839) and subsequent photographic processes made portraiture more accessible
  • No longer limited to the wealthy and elite, as it was with painted portraits
  • The introduction of the carte-de-visite format in the 1850s further popularized photographic portraiture
    • Allowed for the mass production and exchange of images, creating a new form of social currency

New Forms of Visual Entertainment and Education

• The development of the stereoscope and stereographs created a new form of visual entertainment and education
  • Brought three-dimensional images of distant places and events into homes
  • Allowed people to experience the world beyond their immediate surroundings
• The increasing affordability and portability of photographic equipment, such as the Kodak camera (1888)
  • Allowed more people to create their own images and document their lives
  • Empowered individuals to become creators and chroniclers of their own experiences

Transformation of Visual Culture

• The proliferation of photographic images in various forms transformed the visual landscape of the 19th century
  • Photographs appeared in albums, postcards, advertisements, and public displays
  • Images became more ubiquitous and integrated into everyday life
• The democratization of image-making set the stage for the media-saturated culture of the 20th century
  • Photography paved the way for the development of mass media and visual communication
  • The increased accessibility and circulation of images had lasting effects on society and culture