When Irving Penn said "Photographing a cake can be art." did he mean simplicity is beauty? Looking at his work we can see how he used simple compositions to create interest within the frame. He loved the edges of the format. The negative spaces were planned precisely to bring our our eyes back to the important areas of the image. The negative spaces are interesting without upstaging the main subject. This is balance and emphasis in action.
16 comments:
In Irving Penn photography’s, I could really see strength of the negative spaces blending with the positive to make a moderation that will make small details stand out as big ones do. By the use of black and white pictures also formulates a different understanding of the picture, like approximating the times it was taken and the fashion used back then, and how it has change, or some may say improved. In conclusion I really enjoyed Irving Penn’s photographs and will certainly use them as reference for my future paintings.
Art can be seen all day, everywhere you go. Sometimes people find art being simple and beautiful, but everyone’s eyes tell different things whether you like it or not. When Irving Penn that taking a picture of a cake could be art he meant a lot of things. Maybe on of them was that things we see daily can be art if you try and give it another thought. Negative spaces may sometimes help your image because it gives more emphasis, which drastically help make the picture complete. When taking a photograph it’s always very important to leave the necessary negative space, so you end up with a great picture. One of the biggest aspects of this picture is that it was in black and white, which makes it better for the picture because it brings out more the negative space.
Irving Penns photographies exhibit and demonstrate his capacity for work, and imagination and the glamour and elegance of his pictures ,his thoughts and his knowledge. And I like how atractive these pictures look, the black and white picturse make him different from most photographer. But maybe some backrond would help in this picture so it can caught more attention from the people.
Andrea Maradiaga 9th
Somewhere in the paragraph you mentioned that simplicity makes beauty, and it is quite true, due to te fact that with a simple picture, such as the one with the lady on a negative background, makes you draw out infinite view points on the picture. The beauty is that one can pull out the meaning to the artwork by their simple curiousity and imagination. - Juan P. Agurcia
I believe what Penn meant by his quote was that anything can be art when u add a meaning and portray an emotion through it. He did this by giving the strong contrast to his pieces and using the negative space to take the readers attention to certain areas of the piece. Through this, he channels his emotions and opinions to the viewer. In the girls face, there is an intense contrast with the color of the eye. This eye shows intensity and a bit of desperation. Yet it is up to the viewer to interpret what Penn was showing.
-Adriana Vega
Ever artist or photograqpher has his unique style, its like his digital prints are somewhere. You can sometimes just by looking at the art work know who was the artist. Irving Penn's fotographs express what he considers to be elegance and class. For me it completely works. To conclude, I believe that simplicity with highly strong features makes an artwork stand out, and he acomplished this in a very interesting manner.
Yes, he meant the correct thing when saying simplicity can be art. One can make something very simple, and by using contrast as Irving Penn, one can make it interesting to see as well as beautiful. In my opinion, these pictures are very good, since I have a positive view on abstract looking pictures. Other people might say this is very simple and ugly, but that may be because they want complex and colorful drawings. Lucas F
Due to my observation, I can easily notice how concentrated the author was in applying high quality shades. At first impression the painting might look relatively simple because of its lack in color. However besides the difficult and complex shading, I can see that the woman’s way of dressing is not common at all. It is definitely creative to apply these types of clothes to her. I can also realize that the author’s goal is to make us notice this well modified vest. Since almost everything in the painting is clothes, it is pretty much the only thing we will notice and be able to appreciate.
“In a tiny object such as drop, there is enough space for a feeling.” Nobody knows for sure if Penn actually meant “simplicity is beauty”. On the other hand, I deem he went beyond the literal meaning of it. Come on! He’s an artist, he obviously meant much more than that. Artists communicate their feelings through their symbolic words and artworks. Well, I believe the cake is a symbolism, a symbolism of a feeling. From my point of view, Penn meant that any type of emotion can be portrayed in any object, even if the object is a cake. It depends on the way the photographer feels in the instant he takes the photo. Art is the representation of a sentiment and of a soul; maybe the cake embodies a burst of happiness or of overstimulation. By observing two of his photographs, I can feel the intensity of the images. He definitely created interest within the frame with his simple compositions. His unorthodox style created drama in his photographs, causing the viewer to focus in the person’s expression. He is multifarious; Irving Penn did not only accentuate the central subject in the image, he also heightened the mood of the subject. In a single frame, he revealed the sociality of the persona and their individual soul. Long live Penn’s phantom!
Every artist has its different way of expressing, their feelings in their arts. THe fact that this art is in black and white makes me think that Irving Penn photography’s, are amazing. I really like black and white arts because I think it gives it an elegant touch and an interesting way of thinking about the artist. Its simple only two colors can make an amazing shade value etc. I also think simplicity is the best. To conclude this arts make you think of different points of view.
Edith
Beauty is seen differently by every human being. What may be simple to my eyes, might be complex to yours. I see this picture very structured, very planned. Black and white gives it a simplicity that many colors would have taken away. Even though the model has many things going on at the same time (big-rimmed hat,stiff scarf, tie, slooves and gloves). This picture looks clean and uncluttered. Having the model not look at the camera, the photographer gives us a glimpse at the somber mood he wants to set.
Beauty is seen differently by every human being. What may be simple to my eyes, might be complex to yours. I see this picture very structured, very planned. Black and white gives it a simplicity that many colors would have taken away. Even though the model has many things going on at the same ( big-rimmed hat, stiff scarf, tie, sleeves and gloves) the picture looks clean and uncluttered. Having the model not look at the camera, the photographer gives us a glimpse at the mood he wants to set.
Beauty is seen differently by every human being. What may be simple to my eyes, might be complex to yours. I see this picture very structured, very planned. Black and white gives it a simplicity that many colors would have taken away. Even though the model has many things going on at the same ( big-rimmed hat, stiff scarf, tie, sleeves and gloves) the picture looks clean and uncluttered. Having the model not look at the camera, the photographer gives us a glimpse at the mood he wants to set.
Beauty is seen differently by every human being. What may be simple to my eyes, might be complex to yours. I see this picture very structured, very planned. Black and white gives it a simplicity that many colors would have taken away. Even though the model has many things going on at the same ( big-rimmed hat, stiff scarf, tie, sleeves and gloves) the picture looks clean and uncluttered. Having the model not look at the camera, the photographer gives us a glimpse at the mood he wants to set
Daniela Maduro 9th grade
I truly agree with irving Penn's word becasue not always does the things that have more show are the ones the more beautiful ones. Simplity is an art it is not always the first thing that catches the eye, but it has a beauty, a uniqueness. Observing the pictures i wanted to know more of it, its meanig. The simplicity makes you more interested in the photo becuse it is so simple and not much is shown you are more attracted to it. Simplicity builds curiosity, simplicity is beautiful.
-Lucianna kafati
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