This was a really powerful read, and the images are just gorgeous. That final one of Outerbridge on the beach is steeped in so much emotion. That he appears content is so touching. Thanks, Neil.
Wow, what a fascinating story, I love his work. I can't comprehend how a commercial photographer's style can fall out of fashion. I'll definitely dig deeper into hus work and story. Thanks so much for the shoutout!
That roll of toilet paper in the roses is almost upsettingly beautiful. The demise of Outerbridge's art as you describe it due to an easier technique reminds me a bit of what happened to the art of engraving. It was totally supplanted by the rise of etching using acids, pretty much by the 17th century onwards. Before then, painters would take up the engravers burin and risk cutting fingers off; afterwards, they went for the much easier technique which gets acids to do the job. Engraving did survive in the form of mass-printed things, (e.g. Gillray and some antiquarian illustrations) but it remains dead as a mode of 'fine art' expression. I don't know any contemporary artists that practice the art and a master printmaker told me you'd have to be insane to try it...
Every generation faces challenges!
A good read 👍
Thanks Neil for the insights. Heard of him, but now can appreciate Outerbridge more. Love the advertising work!
This was a really powerful read, and the images are just gorgeous. That final one of Outerbridge on the beach is steeped in so much emotion. That he appears content is so touching. Thanks, Neil.
Thank you, Neil. Interesting to read about Outerbridge, did not know him at all. To me, the first image you share, in particular, is striking.
Wow, what a fascinating story, I love his work. I can't comprehend how a commercial photographer's style can fall out of fashion. I'll definitely dig deeper into hus work and story. Thanks so much for the shoutout!
That roll of toilet paper in the roses is almost upsettingly beautiful. The demise of Outerbridge's art as you describe it due to an easier technique reminds me a bit of what happened to the art of engraving. It was totally supplanted by the rise of etching using acids, pretty much by the 17th century onwards. Before then, painters would take up the engravers burin and risk cutting fingers off; afterwards, they went for the much easier technique which gets acids to do the job. Engraving did survive in the form of mass-printed things, (e.g. Gillray and some antiquarian illustrations) but it remains dead as a mode of 'fine art' expression. I don't know any contemporary artists that practice the art and a master printmaker told me you'd have to be insane to try it...