The passage of time, and the capturing of light, every photograph is an instant memory. Between the opening and closing of the shutter something changes and can never be seen again. Looking at images is no different but how long is long enough to actually see? Social media and smartphones have changed the way people look and indeed under…
The passage of time, and the capturing of light, every photograph is an instant memory. Between the opening and closing of the shutter something changes and can never be seen again. Looking at images is no different but how long is long enough to actually see? Social media and smartphones have changed the way people look and indeed understand images. There's a big discussion to be had there.
The art historian T.J. Clarke's book 'The sight of death: An experiment in art writing' is a meditation, written in the form of a daily diary, about extended looking. He writes about looking at two paintings by Poussin in the Getty Museum over an extended period, under changing lighting conditions and how every time he looks at them he sees something different. It's a very good example of how time changes perception. Well worth your time to read.
Thanks for this note, Michel. I am going to look up your book recommendation – T.J. Clarke's book 'The sight of death: An experiment in art writing', sounds fascinating!
The passage of time, and the capturing of light, every photograph is an instant memory. Between the opening and closing of the shutter something changes and can never be seen again. Looking at images is no different but how long is long enough to actually see? Social media and smartphones have changed the way people look and indeed understand images. There's a big discussion to be had there.
The art historian T.J. Clarke's book 'The sight of death: An experiment in art writing' is a meditation, written in the form of a daily diary, about extended looking. He writes about looking at two paintings by Poussin in the Getty Museum over an extended period, under changing lighting conditions and how every time he looks at them he sees something different. It's a very good example of how time changes perception. Well worth your time to read.
Thanks for this note, Michel. I am going to look up your book recommendation – T.J. Clarke's book 'The sight of death: An experiment in art writing', sounds fascinating!