The Bates College Musuem of Art presents

The Subjective Perspective

Subjectivity is just as important as objectivity. Artists can’t totally recreate reality, and so must choose only certain aspects of it to include in their artwork. Even photographers have to make choices about what to include and what not to, or what to have be in focus or be blurred. All artists can insert subjectivity into a picture by allowing ideas and feelings to distort, or even delete objective observations. This can actually make the image more successful. Art is a powerful mode of communication that can evoke strong feelings and opinions. When we experience a work of art, whether it is a painting, a dance performance, literature, or a piece of music, we are invited to do so both objectively and subjectively. Artists are usually more concerned with evoking strong subjective reactions than in slavishly depicting things objectively and getting only simple, unemotional responses from their audience—even artists who make very realistic works.

We often think that photographs represent things exactly as they are. Do you think this is true? Let’s explore this idea a bit by looking at some. Here is a portrait by Josef Koudelka, from his series of photographs of the Romi people (also known as Gypsies) in Eastern Europe. As always, make a list of observations about the picture, being sure to note as many details as possible.

Now take another look and explain what mood the artist was trying to communicate. How do you feel when you look at the picture? Do you think the artist wanted you to feel this way? Do you like the picture? Do you think the artist wanted you to? What do you think the people in the picture are like? Why is the picture in black and white, when the artist could have used colour film? After all, real life is in colour. Again, do you think photographs represent things as they really are? Why?

Here is another portrait photograph by Rowena Otremba. Before we can analyze the subjective qualities of the picture and our reaction, we must first objectively look at the picture. Record these observations by writing them as a list. Look closely at the details.

Next, examine some of the subjective qualities of the picture. What mood is she trying to convey with her image? How does she concentrate your attention on the boy in the picture? Do you think the artist knows the boy in the picture? What do you think she wants you to know about him? What do you think he is like? Compare the mood of this picture to that by Koudelka. Is one picture more subjective than the other? Explain. Which do you like more? Why?