Week 6-Landscape and the Sublime

'Wanderer in the mists' (1818) Caspar David Friedrich

'Untitled #2" (2002) Richard Misrach

Richard Misrach's photography reflects the concept of the Sublime, from the Enlightenment.

Research Misrach's work by reading about his intentions, and also by looking at the work. Then answer the following questions;

1. Define the Enlightenment, including its context (time and place).The Enlightenment was the creation and beginning of new ideas about man, society and nature which challenged traditional world views, dominated by Christianity. The main components of the enlightenment thought are,

·         The universe can be understood through reason alone

·         Seeing is believing

·         Experience is preferred over authority

·         If we can understand it, we can control it

·         Human history is a history of progress

·         Humans can be improved by education

·         Religion has no place in the understanding the physical human world

2. Define the concept of the Sublime.

‘The sublime’ is defined as that the life of feeling and spirit depended on us being in harmony with a greater order of the universe. The sublime is therefore seen as the ultimate of ‘greatness’ and ‘divinity’.  The sublime is an experience created by the beauty of untouched nature, it toys with your emotions, making you feel ‘on top of the world’ but also makes you feel so insignificant compared to the vast landscape.

3. Explain how the concept of the Sublime came out of Enlightenment thought.

The concept of the sublime came out of the enlightenment because it was not seen as a stable way of life. The sublime came out of this as people, even though landscape was at the bottom of the art importance at the time, pulled away from painting religious or mythological concepts. They began to paintings that reflected the world around them for example still life and landscape. This way of painting became more acceptable over time and later developed into the concept of the sublime.

4. Discuss the subject matter, and aesthetic (look) of Misrach's work to identify the Sublime in his work. Include some quotes from art critics and other writers who have written about his work. 

Misrach’s subject matter is the human form and landscapes. He strategically places people in vast areas to draw attention to how much bigger the space is and how small and almost how insignificant the people look. Misrach said himself, “My thinking about this work was influenced by the events of 9/11, particularly by the images of individuals and couples falling from the World Trade Towers, as well as by the 1950s Cold War novel and film, On the Beach. Paradise has become an uneasy dwelling place; the sublime sea frames our vulnerability, the precarious nature of life itself.”

5. Add 2 new images of his work to your blog.

Desert Fire (Man with Rifle)

6. Describe how does Misrach's photography makes you feel. How does it appeal to your imagination? Misrach’s photography makes me feel isolated and also gives me an airy feeling. It makes me think what was the person in the photograph feeling? It also makes me feel at peace as there is no busyness and chaos shown in the photograph. I get the sense that it would be quiet and quite therapeutic.

7. Identify some other artists or designers that work with ideas around the Sublime, from the Enlightenment era as well as contemporary artists.

                       Bridge near the Usk, Turner.

Anne Noble, images from Antarctica

8. Add a Sublime image of your choice to your blog, which can be Art or just a Sublime photograph.

  Casper Fridedrich, Monk by the sea  1809






http://www.artnet.com/awc/richard-misrach.html
http://www.answers.com/topic/idea-of-the-sublime
http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/enlightenment.html
http://www.mocp.org/collections/permanent/misrach_richard.php