The Pencil of Nature

A group exhibition exploring the intersection of painting and photography. The title "The Pencil of Nature" is borrowed from the first commercial illustrated book of photographs published between 1844-1846 by Fox Talbot, one of the inventors of photography. However, in the context of... Read more

A group exhibition exploring the intersection of painting and photography.

The title “The Pencil of Nature” is borrowed from the first commercial illustrated book of photographs published between 1844-1846 by Fox Talbot, one of the inventors of photography. However, in the context of this summer group show it alludes to the symbiotic relationship between photography and graphic arts in current practice.

As far back as the 1840s photographers produced studies for painters to use as an aid, and many painters have made their own photographs for use as studies or independently such as Corot and Degas. Even Talbot was driven to his invention of photography by his lack of skill in sketching. However with more than 150 years under the belt since the invention of photography, and digital technology monopolizing the field, there seems to be a return to that early look back over the shoulder between drawing or works on paper and photography.