Briana Curry Photorealism

Definition: a genre of painting that uses photographs and cameras for their subject

Origin photorealism evolved from Pop Art and as a counter to abstract Expressionism in the late 1960s and early 1970s Appeared mainly in America, but expanded throughout Europe as well.

Photorealism vs. Pop art Photorealism views Pop Art views Reclaimed the values of the image Pointed out the unreasonable of the usage of imagery

Styles Photorealism is unique and there is no particular style Paintings resemble a photograph Photorealist paintings can’t exist without the photograph. Change and movement must be frozen in time which must be then correctly presented by the artist.

Take an actual picture of the subject or location Photo realists use a photograph or several photographs to gather the information to create their paintings and it can be argued that the use of a camera and photograph is an acceptance of modernism Steps: Take an actual picture of the subject or location Project the photo on a canvas and use an airbrush to recreate the black and white outline Finally fill in the colors

Themes and characteristics Brushstrokes aren’t visible Tight and precise lines Like Pop Art, subjects are modern products or places Portraits of people were also common subjects Played with optical effects of reflective surfaces and natural light

Richard Estes (1932- ) One of the founding figures of the photorealist movement of the late 1960s Played with optical effects of reflective surfaces and natural light, his work deals with the postwar urban environment He layers and merges multiple viewpoints to create dense and detailed scenes Bus Reflections,1974 Diner, 1971

Chuck Close (1940- ) Created a link between painting and photography Pixel-like grid technique Suffers from face blindness, and can’t recognize faces. By painting portraits, he is able to recognize and remember faces. Big self portrait (1967-1968) Stanley II

Audrey Flack (1931- ) Paintings usually had very detailed reflections from glass Her work encompasses painting, sculpture, and photography Became the 1st photorealist painter to be added to the collection of the museum of modern art in 1966 Her work brings in everyday household items and actual accounts of history Chanel, 1974 WWII, 1977

Dan Hanson (1925-1996) Abortion, 1966 Supermarket lady, 1969 Most successful sculptor during this movement Used fiberglass figures dressed in real clothes to mimic and criticize Americans Abortion, 1966 Supermarket lady, 1969

Works Cited https://www.google.com/search?q=du ane+hanson&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa =X&ved=0ahUKEwi- g4efqPfSAhXTZiYKHXoCCI0Q_AUIBigB &biw=1920&bih=953&dpr=1#imgrc=i BmEhYE5TQ3BqM:&spf=192 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_ Hanson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duane_ Hanson#/media/File:Duane_Hanson.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard _Estes https://www.artsy.net/artist/richard- estes http://www.theartstory.org/movement- photorealism.htm https://www.guggenheim.org/artwork /movement/photorealism