How Photography Transformed But Saved Painting | Generated by AI
Question: When photography techniques become more advanced, do people paint less?
Answer:
No, advancements in photography techniques have not led to people painting less overall. Instead, the invention and evolution of photography profoundly influenced painting by shifting its focus away from realistic representation, ultimately liberating and revitalizing the medium.
Historical Impact of Photography’s Invention (1839 Onward)
The introduction of photography in the 19th century initially raised fears among some artists that it would render painting obsolete, particularly for realistic portraits and documentation. For instance, painter Paul Delaroche reportedly exclaimed, “From today, painting is dead!” upon seeing early photographs. Photography excelled at capturing exact likenesses quickly and cheaply, impacting lower-end portrait painters and miniaturists, some of whom switched professions or colored photos to survive.
However, evidence shows no widespread decline in painting:
- Portrait painting did not die out; it supplemented photography by appealing to those seeking artistic interpretation over mechanical accuracy.
- Studies of 19th-century markets (e.g., in the Netherlands) found only isolated cases of displacement, with reports of an artistic revival coinciding with photography’s rise.
- Photography “freed” painting from the burden of realism, spurring innovation. Painters explored light, color, emotion, and abstraction—leading to Impressionism (focusing on fleeting effects photography couldn’t capture), Post-Impressionism, Cubism, and Modernism.
Without photography challenging realism, modern art movements might not have emerged as they did.
Modern Era and Digital Photography
Digital photography (from the late 20th century) made image capture even easier and more accessible, including smartphones and editing software. Yet, painting has thrived:
- Contemporary art markets show paintings dominating high-value sales (e.g., paintings accounted for vastly more auction revenue than photography from 2005–2024: ~$148 billion vs. ~$3 billion for photos).
- Estimates suggest millions of active artists today (potentially 5–17 million globally), many painters, producing hundreds of millions of artworks annually.
- Trends include photorealism (painters mimicking photos for artistic effect), abstract, and expressive styles—often in response to photography’s ubiquity.
- Digital tools have blurred lines (e.g., some use photos as references or combine media), but traditional painting remains popular in galleries, education, and hobbyist communities.
Advancements in photography changed how and why people paint (more expression, less replication), but not the quantity. Painting persists as a unique human craft emphasizing creativity, texture, and interpretation that mechanical or digital capture cannot fully replicate.
References:
- Role Reversal: How Paintings and Photography Switched Roles in the 20th Century
- Did Photography Really Kill Portrait Painting? - JSTOR Daily
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[How Photography Pioneered a New Understanding of Art TheCollector](https://www.thecollector.com/how-photography-transformed-art/) - Photography Is Everywhere Now. Can Photo Auction Results Keep Pace?
- Art World Statistics Every Artist Needs to Know — CAI