A concise history of photography
Weekend-long art history and theory course
9 November 2019 10am - 5pm10 November 2019 10am - 5pm
Wolfson British Academy Room, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts
£420. Includes all materials, light refreshments and a wine reception at the end of day one.
Terms and conditions
Investigate the fascinating history and theories of photography in this weekend-long course.
In 1859, Charles Baudelaire famously described photography as "art’s mortal enemy" and argued its proper function was to be the "very humble servant" of the sciences and arts. For Baudelaire, photography’s ability to reproduce nature exactly was its genius but also its fatal flaw. Unlike art, for Baudelaire, photographic representation could not elevate its subject – the sitter of a portrait or the view of a landscape – because it simply mirrored them and made a copy and photography should be to art what the printing press was to literature: a tool.
Such criticisms require us to ask some important questions about photography: what is it? why does it exist? what is it for? And, of course, is photography art? It also asks us to consider the relationship between photography and the arts more widely. For example, how has non-photographic art and architecture influenced photography, and vice-versa?
Photography’s aspiration to be considered equal to painting is obvious in images from the 19th and early 20th centuries which echo and mimic painterly compositions and artistic styles. The emergence of painterly abstraction was paralleled in photography, but rather than simply copy painting, photography explored new visual territory, and on its own terms becoming avant-garde. The 20th century witnessed the birth of self-conscious modes of photography: straight, staged, abstract, collaged, and camera-less photographic techniques were reinvented. So too were the processes of making, printing, and exhibiting photography. Even the truth claims of documentary photography – the genre best aligned to ‘copying’ reality – continue to be reasserted and challenged.
To better understand these questions and relationships, this course explores photographic histories in relation to art history’s own complicated relationship with the medium. Sessions will consider a variety of historical moments where art and photography collide, points in time where art, photography and criticism were irrevocably altered.
From the 19th Century Eadweard Muybridge's work in photographic studies of motion to the contemporary David Hockney's artworks, the course traces and illuminates the productive relationship between photographic practices and art.
£420. Includes all materials, light refreshments and a wine reception at the end of day one.
Terms and conditions
About the course
This course provides a unique opportunity to learn about photography’s multiple histories and its complex relationship with traditional art histories.
The course will be delivered in part through lectures and site visits but will also include an opportunity for questions and discussion from participants.
Please note, participants are encouraged to take notes in each lecture as printed notes are at the discretion of each speaker.
It is designed both to enable an historical overview for those new to the field, and to be relevant for those with prior art history knowledge who are keen to learn from experts.
This course is suitable for enthusiastic beginners as well as those with previous knowledge who would like to develop their understanding further.
This course is for you if:
• You have a specific interest in the impact of photography on art or the impact of art on photography
• You have a personal or professional interest in how photography can be presented, interpreted and viewed by different audiences, over time and in different historic periods.
• You would like to deepen and enrich your knowledge with an expert perspective and explore in detail the development of a range of photographic movements and critical ideas.
Minimum age 18
Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs.
£420
Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 November 2019
10am–5pm on both days
This course provides:
• Two days of expert-led lectures with the opportunity for questions and discussions
• The opportunity to learn and reflect within a peer group, with discussions facilitated by an expert in the field
• The opportunity to socialise and network with peers in a friendly environment
• A drinks reception at the end of the first day
• A certificate of participation upon course completion
About the tutor
Mark Rawlinson
Associate Professor of History of Art
University of Nottingham
Professor Mark Rawlinson is a curator, writer and lecturer in 20th and 21st century American art, photography and visual culture, as well as critical and photographic theory. He is currently Associate Professor of History of Art at the University of Nottingham and has written and contributed to numerous publications on photography. He has a special interest in the ways that photography has influenced art and artists, as well as conversely the impact of modernism and conceptual art practices on the development of photography.
Our courses and classes programme
Our varied programme of short courses and classes provides an opportunity to explore subjects ranging from life drawing to the history of exhibitions and arts management, led by expert tutors and practising artists. These courses introduce traditional art-making processes, as well as perspectives on art history, theory and business.
Give this course as a gift
All of our courses can be purchased as a gift for a friend or family member – giving the gift of education and a remarkable experience. To arrange a personalised Gift Voucher, please contact Anna Pojer, Academic Programmes Manager, by calling 020 7300 5684 or email anna.pojer@royalacademy.org.uk
Related events
Short courseFreeThe Primary Art School
9 January - 12 June 2025
Short courseArt and conflict
1 February - 2 February 2025
Short courseModernism around the world
4 February - 11 March 2025
Short coursePortrait photography: ideas from modernism
15 February - 16 February 2025
Short courseThe Art of Carnival
1 March 2025
Short courseBotanical art
11 March - 8 April 2025
Short courseExploring ink: method and imagination
29 March - 30 March 2025
