Traditional Painting Genres in Photography | Maine Museum of Photographic Arts
Eugene Atget, The Ragpickers, 1912
Written by: Jania Marissa
Maine Museum of Photographic Arts showed a Holiday edition photography series displaying a handful of talented artists. Ranging from antiquity to contemporary displays of portraiture through photography. The lens of the show is all through Portraiture, whether that be a silhouette of the earth, the body of a human, or water and or an object. All of these subjects capture the essence of what portraiture means.
Dave Wade, SS # 6, From Time Signature portfolio
Dave Wade is one of the artists featured in the exhibition. His photographs focus on landscape and the earth as the subject of his work. The delicate subtlety of disturbance within his photographs adds a level of natural beauty to the seemingly ordinary landscape scenes. We are like spectators of the earth. Through observation and capturing of nature, we become witnesses to nature alongside Wade by observing his photographs. Wade urges the audience to explore and curiously enjoy his work. The photographs featured are from the setting of a beach. The microscopic detail of a grain of sand can be appreciated in the beauty paradoxical complexity and simplicity of his photographs.
Carol Eisenberg, Undercurrents #17, 2021
Carol Eisenberg is another artist featured, her works are those of paintings. However, what is unique about Einsenberg is the intentional manipulation and digitalization of her paintings allowing her work to morph medium and become a new work of art. The photographs of the paintings are immersive, three-dimensional, and vividly colorful works of flowers. Flowers are a familiar subject matter, but Eisenberg is able to give a nuance to photographic production, allowing a new way of seeing flowers in comparison to the typical display of flowers in still-life paintings and photography. She is reinventing the subject matter, into an evocative and captivating experience.
George Daniell, (American, 1911 -2002) Sofia Loren, Rome
George Daniel is also in the exhibition, a famous American photographer and painter. Daniel is known for his plethora of photographic portraits. Most subjects are the likings of famous actors, actresses and his friends. His work was featured in numerous renowned publications such as Life and Time Magazine. The portraits that are in the show, are those of Italian actress Sophia Loren, known best for her role in Two Women ( 1960) which earned her an Academy Award.
John Woodruff, Culture Lux 53, 2023
John Woodruff challenges the way photography is created and also understood. Instead of the subject of his work being clear and centralized. Woodruff aims to create photographs by hand, by piecing together elements to make an original medium for his work. “ My art is about color and composition but, inevitably is also about the medium itself.” The photographs included in the show are surrealistically colorful and immersive. Some of Woodruff’s influences are music from Flims, Jefferson’s Airplane lights show from the 70s along with nature and the earth. Whilst looking at the photographs those influences can be seen and felt. Conveying a trippy trance-like experience to his work, almost emulating music visually.
Claire Seidl, Computer Light, window, 2023
All in all the artists within the exhibition, expand on the theme of portraits and give a nuanced, immersive, and captivating experience when observing the work in the show.
