Hockney film last week

Hi everyone:

Well, I read Keri's post last week and went to the links that she had on it with articles, etc. about David Hockney's film which we watched last week. I am not an artist, I just know what I like but even I don't believe much of what he had to say in the film. How could anyone believe that no one could draw or paint from what they were viewing or memory. After reading some of the articles and opinions in the links it got me to thinking about what he had said in the film. I cannot believe that anyone could think that not one of the artists he mentioned (I won't try to name any - I just brutalize them!) didn't draw or paint their works.

When thinking again about the video I noticed that Hockney tried reproducing works that were of people; other than the one building there were no landscapes, gardens, nature, etc. I really don't think he proved anything; I certainly do not believe his theories - can't image that any of those artists used that method to create everything they ever painted.

I went to the Campus Store last week when they had the sidewalk sale - found a book called Impressionists. I bought it and there were some amazing pictures of art work by Monet, Manet, Cezanne, Degas and others. Its hard for me to believe that these were created by someone - they are absolutely amazing! Harder for me to believe that these artists possibly used camera obscura to create them - according to Hockney.

It occured to me about the film and his theory that it was as if he were saying that the art world not only cheated but that they discovered a crude version of today's technology (specifically photography).