favorite photo

Caroline Eakins

Thomas Eakins (American, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1844–1916 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Date:

1882

Medium:

Albumen silver print

Classification:

Photographs

Response to photo

I really enjoy this photograph; it really resonates with the simplicity of life I feel when I look at it. I also like the reality of it. It makes me feel that the artist, Thomas Eakins was trying to portray the calmness and gentleness of everyday life. I look at the picture and I can see the evening and feel the worm breeze on my face. The way the women id facing with her back to the camera gives me the impression and feeling I’m getting a sneak peak in to her world. I love how the sun is setting, it adds to the calmness and love in the photograph. Its funny the artist wasn’t at all appreciated for his depth, perception, character and commitment to realism. He only sold 30 paintings/ photos before he died. Only after he died in 1917 did people appreciate and recognize him as one of America’s greatest painters. His attention to light, landscape and human form made him stand far above his peers in the art world. This picture of his I choose is actually of his wife and dog. Thomas enjoyed painting the human form, which wasn’t done in his time. Thomas refused to compromise his beliefs, and painted people the way they were, not the way they wanted to be seen. This vision changes the nature of art education and provided generations to come with a deeper view of the time in which he lived.