Reviews

Review 1 - Art Analysis: Dorothea Lange - Migrant Mother, 1936

Source: Brazeau,G.,2012.Art Analysis: Dorothea Lange – Migrant Mother,1936.Womenartandculture blog,[blog] 13 May. Available at: < http://womenartandculture.blogspot.com/2012/05/artanalysis-migrant-mother-1936-ihave.html >[Accessed 3 January 2014].

This review is about a blog post dated 13^th May  2012 by Gabby Brazeau which is named “Art Analysis : Dorothea Lange - Migrant Mother,1936”.

As it is depicted by the name this analysis is about the most documented image during the 1930s of the Migrant mother, taken by the photographer Dorothea Lange during the Great Depression in 1936 in United States.

Brazeau describes the woman in great detail especially her expression of desperation. Her face is the main focus where she emphasize on her wrinkles around her eyes.The mother although at young age, looks much older due to the hardships she had to face in order to raise her children while struggling for survival at that difficult time. Nonetheless her adamant look shows her strength and the children‘s closeness to their mother gives them a sense of security. Although the children's face is hidden one can notice their messy hair and the thorn clothes they are all wearing. 

Brazeau compares Lange to the artist Adrienne Rich as both of them contributed to unveil the harsh realities and give voice through art to those who were overlooked by society.

She also makes  a reference to the Migrant Mother as a good example of feminist art.

In her analysis Brazeau points out that the photograph leads the viewer to believe that the woman is raising her children by herself. She relates this image to her reading on Sula,which describes the women who all raised their children on their own.

The Migrant mother represents the low class workers especially women who can survive evenly as men.

Lange manages to describe the real historical situation with her image of the Migrant Mother without manipulating the photograph.

For her analysis Brazeau used both primary and secondary sources. Although the art analysis is on the photograph of the Migrant Mother some important points are missing such as her name, her age and also that she was a widow.  

The text is written in plain language and can be understood by everyone. It is not a very reliable source and there is also some repetition especially when describing the mother and that she is struggling to survive. 

Review 2 - Nadar (Gaspard-Félix Tournachon) (French, 1820–1910)

Source: The Museum of Modern Art,2014. The Collection.[online] Available at : <http://www.moma.org/collection/artist.php?artist_id=4196 > [Accessed 2 January 2014].

The chosen article named 'Nadar (Gaspard- Felix Tournachon) (French 1820-1920)', which is written by Helene Bocard is found on the Museum of Modern Art website.

Bocard describes in great detail the life and achievements of the well-known French inventor and artist Nadar.

He was born in Lyon in 1820. He deserted his study of medicine to continue in journalism. He first became famous for his sarcastic caricatures. It was then  that he got his nickname Nadar from "Tourne a dard".

In 1845 he printed his first novel - La Robe Dejanira.

In 1865, when he was already an established photographer he quitted his career as a caricaturist. First he entrenched with his brother Adrien who worked together for some time. However following a disagreement with his brother about his stage name had led them to court in 1856, leaving Adrien frail.

Nadar began by taking portraits of friends but soon after he became an acclaimed portrait photographer. He ended up photographing famous personalities like Sarah Bernhardt and Gustave Dore. He also took exceptional photos of his family and self portraits.  

In his remarkable portraits , where he made use of the wet collodion and later the dry collodion, he focused on the sitter's face and expression.

Nadar had to move to larger premises in 1860 at Boulevard des Capucines due to high demand. He also rented the studio for exhibitions. The first one being Impressionists.

He became financially destroyed by the war of 1870. After getting back his former wealth by 1885 he handed over to his son Paul Nadar.

Nadar, besides being a renowned portraiture photographer he was the first one who invented aerial photography, which he took from his balloons. He was also the pioneer for photographing the catacombs and the sewers of Paris with artificial light.

He founded the journal 'Paris photographe' and also published his memoirs 'Quand j' etais photographe' in 1899.

This significant article is very detailed and informative with rich text. It is mostly directed to knowledgeable audience and students.The fact that the print is small it is not very practicable to read it especially on screen.