What comes to mind when thinking about humanity’s greatest achievements? The aeroplane perhaps, or splitting of the atom. There’s no harm in counting sliced bread in that list too!
Art exists way below on that list, but life is left dull without it, whether it is the holiday picture stuck on the fridge or the perfect soundtrack when you’re exercising.
However, art had a much more limited definition in the decades and centuries past. It was prestigious, a privilege known only to the rich and noble. The best songs were reserved for royal courts and the most beautiful paintings were collected by ones with the largest estates. The common people didn’t think of owning them, for them the idea was as absurd as pineapple on pizza is to us, well most of us.
The change in perception of Art
It is generally believed that the first photographic camera was developed in 1816 by Frenchman Joseph Niépce, although the camera’s origin relied on centuries of contribution.
It was a breakthrough and a marvellous discovery, worthy of each and every praise as it gave rise to a new meaning for art. It captured life and reality, but it wasn’t until Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre rolled into the scene with his ‘daguerreotype’ in 1839- the world’s first commercial camera that discord and protests rose in society.
“Refuge of failed painters with too little talent”
The above statement was spoken by Charles Baudelaire, a French poet and actor, and this was just one of the hundred criticisms aimed at photography. In truth, photography didn’t cheapen art, it democratised art by making art cheaper and more accessible. As it became easier and economical to produce pictures, portraits and paintings stopped being a privilege of the rich and powerful, it evolved to a respected art form of its own.
It’s also a great substitute to personalise our homes and add a little beauty without emptying out the bank account and being in perpetual debt.
The change in society
Today there is no better example to describe society than social media. It is a crucial element of society and no matter how many blogs exist about its harmful effects; people are dependent on it whether they are individuals, groups or brands.
Photography and its applications evolved lightning fast and gave us cinemas we anxiously wait for, reels we create, gifs we share, memes we laugh at, and half a dozen other digital items. They make social media what it is today, giving people the power to express their thoughts and personalities, and for brands, these are not just tools for communicating with the audience but a way to breathe some personality into just a name or symbol.
From Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa to a random reddit user’s NFT, from appreciating art to filing tax for it, art came a long way and photography was the biggest leap in this journey.
