Anne Brigman Visual & Performing Arts Research Paper

Anne Brigman
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Anne Brigman
Anne Brigman works are recognized as having a great extent of visual compellation that made her be highly regarded by her contemporaries. She played a significant role in the process of development of the art photography industry, especially in California. Further, her written accounts of the several trips that she made to the mountains are some of the practical aspects that add to her tone and content of the photographic practice that she was involved in. The majority of her style in the aesthetic works are grounded on pictorialism. In this case, there is an application of different techniques of toning including the use of fine grain and soft focus. Additionally, there is the aspect of manipulation of negatives and prints by use of scratching, over-painting as well as blurring. The works draw inspiration from symbolism, spirituality, theosophy, and anti-industrial sentiments.[Waldroup, Heather. “Hard To Reach: Anne Brigman, Mountaineering And Modernity In California" Modernism/modernity 21 (2014): 447-466.]
The aesthetics of the Brigman’s work in this photograph (Figure 3) from the Sierras reveals themes that represent both modern and anti-modern perspectives. There is a clear representation of Sierra as a specific place as revealed from the details of the landscape and at the same time. The casual snapshot reveals the universal spiritual experiences as well as the densely manipulated pictorial compositions. The photograph Invictus (Figure 1) represents a high and lonely place that is located between showers and racing clouds amidst glorious sunlight. The compelling composition of this picture draws the attention towards the solidity as well as the serenity of the landscape being presented. In the picture, there is a sharp contrast between the vertical representation of the tree forms that sways and covering the female body standing in the midst of it and the line of the slopping horizon that appears to be balanced by a heap of weighty boulder within the background. The image has a wide range of tones that represents the strong shadows under the tree all the way to the clouds that shows deeper meaning of the drama in the image. The nude female body seems to emerge from the tree rising up by itself. The darkening sky, as well as the deepening shadows, describes the real story behind the heavy storm. Such a presentation richly adds to the aesthetic value of the picture as shown.[Summerlin, Amanda. Baring Themselves: Representations of the Female Nude by American Women Artists, 1880-1930. American University, 2017.]
The pictorial print of the Harlequin (Figure 2) shows the picture of the tree standing by itself. The tree is presented as standing within a strong reclining profile that bends outwards pointing to the sky. This reveals the nature of agency that appears within the elements of nature, the value, in this case, presents trees not merely as objects only but also active subjects in the environment. The tree as presented in this picture exposes a lot of rhythm with the trunk revealing existence of a lot of energy. The aspect of the graininess as exposed by the style in the picture together with the existing weighted composition that creates a distinction between the tree and the surrounding environment as presented by the landscape, the sky, and the mountains.
The picture of the Sierra Landscape (3) is a good representation of the social value within the society in a pictorial form. The picture generates an emotional-spiritual perspective that is a reflection of her personal experiences within the wilderness. There are aspects of adventure that goes along with mountaineering in contemporary society. The blurring and smearing of her image bring out clearly the emotional aspect of the picture. Further, the picture also presents the various motifs that point to the liberation of the woman character. This is clearly brought out through sporty toughness as well as a rugged affinity that represents the outdoors. The series of casual photos shows the ideal experiences and understanding of the mountain landscape. The pictures show her wearing knickers as opposed to women putting on skirts. Such a presentation sends a strong message to the freedom on some aspects of social values within the society that might have enslaved women. However, pants became popular amongst women especially in recreational activities in the early 20...