Has any photographer depicted war with artistic intent?

jtk · Jun 27, 2018

Otto Dix has depicted war artfully. Picasso did as well.

https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&tbm=isch&q=Otto Dix The War (1929-32)

Many war photographers have created what we might call art (e.g. Capa occasionally) but I don't know any photographers who have directly depicted war with artistic intent. Do you?

Andrew O'Neill · Jun 27, 2018

Several Canadian artists went over during both WW's with brushes... A.Y. Jackson (Group of Seven), Alex Colville... there were a few photographers such as William Rider-Rider who photographed during WWI... All went over with the military as historical photographers, but still the artistic intent is there.

faberryman · Jun 27, 2018

You will need to define "artistic intent" so we are all on the same page.

mercurye · Jun 27, 2018

I would say Richard Mosse and his 'Infra' project set out to add an aesthetic flourish to the unrest in the Congo

jtk · Jun 27, 2018

mercurye said:
I would say Richard Mosse and his 'Infra' project set out to add an aesthetic flourish to the unrest in the Congo

Thanks. http://www.richardmosse.com/projects/infra does seem like an "aesthetic flourish" and is in its way more than, or other than, straightforward illustration

jtk · Jun 27, 2018

Andrew O'Neill said:
Several Canadian artists went over during both WW's with brushes... A.Y. Jackson (Group of Seven), Alex Colville... there were a few photographers such as William Rider-Rider who photographed during WWI... All went over with the military as historical photographers, but still the artistic intent is there.

Have you found links that suggest "artistic intent" for any of those? Here's what I found on Rider-Rider but I don't get a sense of anything other than photo illustration (as Matthew Brady et al): https://www.pinterest.com/sjz2003/william-rider-rider/

jtk · Jun 27, 2018

faberryman said:
You will need to define "artistic intent" so we are all on the same page.

It's up to you.

Bob Carnie · Jun 27, 2018

Go to Stephen Bulger Gallery - artist Rita Leistner - we did a series of gum over palladiums of eye phone images when she was embedded with the USArmy 2010.

jtk · Jun 27, 2018

Bob Carnie said:
Go to Stephen Bulger Gallery - artist Rita Leistner - we did a series of gum over palladiums of eye phone images when she was embedded with the USArmy 2010.

Thanks Bob...yes...hard to imagine going to that place in that situation with that intent, but clearly she did it.

https://ffotoimage.com/gallery-rita-leistner/

jtk · Jun 27, 2018

http://www.ad-ac.ca/?exhibition=rita-leistner-the-tree-planters

"Best known for her work in war zones as a conflict photographer, Leistner came to recognize how the strenuous, remote job of tree planting prepared her for that role. Now she has turned the tables and is using her accumulated knowledge as a photographer to offer a unique perspective of her former occupation. After years of photographing war zones, Leistner reached a point in her life where she wanted to make photographs that did not represent death, despair, hatred, loss, and violence. Instead of the deserts of the Middle-East, these photographs were made in British Columbia during 2016 and 2017, while “embedded” within the planting camps of Coast Range Contractors.

Using high-resolution digital cameras and a battery-powered electronic flash, Leistner’s largescale colour photographs present the tree planters in heroic fashion; the sheer physicality of their work depicts a back-breaking dance of bodies, shovels, and dirt. To help orient gallery-goers to the live-action context on the ground, a video of the planters with Rita and her assistant accompanies the exhibition. While each photograph features an individual tree planter, they represent something more universal about hope, belief in the future, living in the moment, and the power of perseverance – one tree at a time."

Bob Carnie · Jun 27, 2018

She is a remarkable woman and I am proud to call her my friend. She is dedicated to any project. She has been to the middle east war zones many times but this particular project falls into the category you are asking about, her other
work is much more hostile or dramatic.

I chose her work to launch my colour pigment services and I just finished a set of the prints last week for her.

Bob Carnie · Jun 27, 2018

She is currently on her way back here to do more test prints with me on the tree planting series...Her opening show had a lineup two blocks long and the gallery had to extend the hours to satisfy the visitors to this show that evening.

Prof_Pixel · Jun 27, 2018

DAVID LEVINTHAL has an interesting approach, See
DAVID LEVINTHAL: WAR, MYTH, DESIRE at https://www.eastman.org/david-levinthal-war-myth-desire

Arthurwg · Jun 27, 2018

James Nachtwey. He was criticized for the "aesthetic" content of his war images.

jtk · Jun 27, 2018

Bob Carnie said:
She is currently on her way back here to do more test prints with me on the tree planting series...Her opening show had a lineup two blocks long and the gallery had to extend the hours to satisfy the visitors to this show that evening.

Bob, I would love to see her work in person, vs online. Perhaps she'll show at http://www.photoeye.com ...Santa Fe NM, where she'll be in good company and will sell many of your prints.

guangong · Jun 27, 2018

Unless a photograph is Photoshopped to death, I don’t see how a photographer could have the same approach as Goya’s Horrors of War or even depictions of Ramses victorious battles. Also, many paintings of war are more like commemorations of famous battles, etc. rather than depictions of the terrors of war.On the other hand, a photograph has a unique quality to capture a reality of war that is unique to itself. Also, a battle photographer doesn’t have the advantage of contemplating the elements that make up his painting.
As for the expression “artistic intent”, I have no idea what it means.

jtk · Jun 27, 2018

guangong said:
Unless a photograph is Photoshopped to death, I don’t see how a photographer could have the same approach as Goya’s Horrors of War or even depictions of Ramses victorious battles. Also, many paintings of war are more like commemorations of famous battles, etc. rather than depictions of the terrors of war.On the other hand, a photograph has a unique quality to capture a reality of war that is unique to itself. Also, a battle photographer doesn’t have the advantage of contemplating the elements that make up his painting.
As for the expression “artistic intent”, I have no idea what it means.

I don't disagree re: Goya but I do think it's long past the time when we deserve to see "artistic intent" in war photos.

Bob Carnie provided a good example.

Admitting that one doesn't know what "artistic intent", or some other idea "means" is both honorable and reasonable.

awty · Jun 27, 2018

Interesting subject. Rita Leistner pictorial like works are great.
Not sure if this qualifies, but there were a few Soviet pictures that had a artistic quality (to me). Would imagine there were a few photographers in Europe and Asia whos works would qualify.
Yevgeny Khaldei & Dmitri Baltermants

fdonadio · Jun 27, 2018

For me, "artistic intent" means something along the lines of "the intent of not simply reporting what's happening, but creating images that convey a broader message than just what is shown in it".

The photos posted by @awty above are, IMO, an example of what I tried to explain with words.

awty · Jun 27, 2018

Sorry a couple of those pictures have been modernized. A shame cause they work just as well without PS.
I personally think the middle photo of the men in the trench is one of the best pictures I have ever seen. Impressive Dmitri saw this.

fdonadio · Jun 27, 2018

awty said:
Sorry a couple of those pictures have been modernized. A shame cause they work just as well without PS.
I personally think the middle photo of the men in the trench is one of the best pictures I have ever seen. Impressive Dmitri saw this.

This one really caught my eye.

jack straw · Jun 27, 2018

Werner Bischoff

jack straw · Jun 27, 2018

Koudelka

(Or pretty much any decent wartime photographer)

Bob Carnie · Jun 28, 2018

awty said:
Interesting subject. Rita Leistner pictorial like works are great.
Not sure if this qualifies, but there were a few Soviet pictures that had a artistic quality (to me). Would imagine there were a few photographers in Europe and Asia whos works would qualify.
Yevgeny Khaldei & Dmitri Baltermants
View attachment 203131 View attachment 203132 View attachment 203133

Magnificent Photographs of a difficult subject.

jtk · Jun 28, 2018

Many fine and eye-opening responses to my OT!

Thank you!

Has any photographer depicted war with artistic intent?

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