Lecture: Portrait Mania

Introduction to Portrait Mania

• Focus: Understanding the obsession with portrait photography after its invention in 1839.
• Perspective: Analyzing photographs based on the time period they were made, rather than judging from today's perspective.

Analyzing Photographs Over Time

• Photographs reflect social norms and personal tastes of their time.
• Example 1: A contemporary couple on a hike.
  • Dynamics observed by students suggest a possible disconnection.
• Example 2: A couple from 1985 smoking with a child.
  • Seen as rebellious or "cool" by students; not socially acceptable today.
• Example 3: A couple from 1971 at a party.
  • Shows changing social norms and self-perception over decades.

The Evolution of Self-Representation

• Personal Experiment: The lecturer's parents chose photographs from different life stages.
  • Each chosen image reflects their identity at that time.
  • The perspective on these images changes over time.
• Importance: Understanding historical context when viewing photographs from different eras.

The Invention of Photography and Its Impact

• Early photography (1840s): People appeared in a very particular way due to technical limitations.
• Daguerreotype Process: Slow and required subjects to remain still.
  • Example: A child in a daguerreotype might appear stiff due to physical constraints.

The Human Desire for Representation

• Historical Examples:
  • Cave paintings (20,000 years BC) depict human figures.
  • Egyptian sculptures (1000 years BC) show realistic human forms.
  • Medieval and Renaissance art focused on idealism and realism.
• Grand Era of Portraits:
  • Artists like Jan van Eyck, Rembrandt, and Jacques-Louis David depicted subjects in realistic settings.
  • Artistic renditions allowed flexibility in representation (e.g., omitting imperfections).

Portrait Photography: A Sensation

• Why the Obsession?
  • Photography allowed for realistic, precise representations.
  • Affordable and accessible compared to painted portraits.
• Cultural Impact:
  • Photographic portraits captured exact likenesses, not artist interpretations.
  • Shift from paintings to photographs marked a change in how people could preserve memories.

Photography vs. Painting

• Pose and Framing: Early portraits mimicked traditional painted portrait styles.
• Motivation: Desire to present oneself in the best light (similar across eras).
  • Comparison of daguerreotypes with contemporary portraits shows consistent motivations.

The Emotional Value of Portraits

• Example: The emotional significance of a daguerreotype to a loved one during a long absence.
  • Letters and daguerreotypes provided emotional solace.

Conclusion

• Portrait photography catered to a long-standing human desire for realistic self-representation.
• Reminder to view more parts of the lecture on Blackboard for further understanding.