Impressionists and Photography

8:56 p.m.

“The daguerreotype is not merely an instrument which serves to draw nature… (it) gives her the power to reproduces herself”.

Louis Daguerre (1838)

In the 19th Century, the birth of Photography produced a major change in the way reality was perceived. The artists of Impressionism were deeply influenced by the possibilities photography had to offer to produce their works. Even though these artists went outdoors to depict the light in its many shades, they embraced the wonders of daguerreotype. Capturing the instant, looking for the proper framing and painting with spontaneity were the obsessions of the Impressionists: photography became the much-needed tool to achieve these aims.

The Tyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, with the exhibition Los Impresionistas y la fotografía, proves the close relationship between artists and takes, displaying the paintings next to the photos. The result: an impeccable show in which landscapes and sitters are painted and portrayed. The exhibition focuses on the influence photography had on painting, although, as we dive deep in the galleries, we can't tell who influenced who. Many of the photos were taken by the artists themselves. The most interesting pieces are the landscapes, with examples by the likes of Claude Monet, Frédéric Bazille or Camille Pissarro, all of them mirroring the photos to perfection. Of course, the portraits also deserve a special note. Thanks to photography, the long sitting sessions are replaced by carte-de-visite, a photo-ID given to the artist (for example, Manet), who used them to make the portraits and then deliver the finished painting.