Comments on Pictorialism

Loris wrote:

>Shannon, I also would like to have a copy of it.
>Thank you very much (big appreciation)!
>
>BTW, I would ve very interested in following a
>"Pictorialism" discussion (to be enlightened on
>the subject) here...
>
>Best regards,
>Loris.
>

Several years ago I had a book published in Spain
by the Ministry of Culture of the Xunta de
Galicia on the Spanish pictorialist Schmidt de
las Heras. In the introduction to the book I
attempted to describe the salient characteristics
of Pictorialism. I am going to quote from my
introduction, recognizing that the movement will
never be the same thing to all people. But
hopefully the text will stimulate some
discussion about the movement.

Text as follows:

What is Pictorialism? Mike Weaver offers an
extremely interesting definition, stating that
the aim of pictorial photography is to "make a
picture in which the sensuous beauty of the fine
print is consonant with the moral beauty of the
fine image, without particular reference to
documentary or design values, and without
specific regard to topographical identity."
This is in fact a definition of the picturesque,
understood as an informal style that presents an
embellished imitation of nature, generally free
of man's influence. The presentation of the
picturesque is the first and foremost
characteristic of Pictorialism. Other important
qualities are: 1) an aesthetic concern with
making art, as opposed to a record; 2) the
concept that only images which show the
personality of the maker, generally through hand
manipulation, can be considered works of art; 3)
an interest in the effect and patterns of natural
lighting in the outdoor landscape; 4) an
impressionistic rendering of the scene, in which
overall effect is more important than detail; and
5) the use of alternative printing processes:
carbon and carbro, gum bichromate, oil and
bromoil, direct carbon, and platinum.

Sandy

>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:abarrutia@velocom.com.ar>Agustin
>To:
><mailto:alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
>Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 10:58 AM
>Subject: Re: Pictorialism paper
>
>I´ll add to the list:
><mailto:abarrutia@velocom.com.ar>abarrutia@velocom.com.ar
>
>Thanks bunches.
>
>Agustin
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:jusdado@teleline.es>JUAN MIGUEL JUSDADO
>To:
><mailto:alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
>Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 4:23 AM
>Subject: RE: Pictorialism paper
>
>Shannon,
>
>Love it have a copy. <mailto:jusdado@teleline.es>jusdado@teleline.es
>
>thank you
>
>-----Mensaje original-----
>De: shannon stoney [mailto:sstoney@pdq.net]
>Enviado el: sábado, 07 de febrero de 2004 2:34
>Para:
><mailto:alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca>alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
>Asunto: Pictorialism paper
>
>Speaking of pictorialism, last fall I asked
>people for ideas about contemporary pictorialist
>practice for a paper I was writing. The paper
>turned out to be mostly about Peter Henry
>Emerson. At the time some people expressed an
>interest in it. If you would like to read it I
>can email you a copy off the list, but it's sort
>of a big file due to the fact that it includes
>images.
>
>--shannon
Received on Sat Feb 7 15:15:58 2004