Activity #9

The world of art experienced a dramatic change with the development of the camera in the early 1900’s. Although it was not fully perfected during that time, it brought a new concept to the visual appearance of art that changed the course and the medium of art across the world for centuries to come. Unlike a painting or sculpture, the camera allowed the capture of a true visual image at the moment and time that the event took place. It correctly produced an image of light and dark values known as positive image (pg .212), on a plate which we know today as a photograph. This ushered in the new art form and visual image of photography.

Photography also changed the visual appearance of art with the sheer quantity of images that could be created and circulated in a single day. It captured in an instant what could not be seen by the naked eye. For instance, in 1878 Eadweard Muybridge used a camera to prove that a running horse does gather all four feet off the ground at the same time. Of course artist painted living figures in motion, but it wasn’t until Muybridge actually photographed the event taking place, could we get a clear picture and true feel of the action. As time passed visual appearances became sharper and clearer.

The camera forever changed and evolved the visual appearance of art via different technologies. It’s like the mother that gave birth to film, motion picture, photojournalism, digital images, video and the internet.