Landscape and the Sublime

Wanderer in the mists (1818) Casper David Friedrich

Untitled # 394 - 03 (2003) Richard Misrach

Untitled # 2 (2002) Richard Misrach

1. What and when was the Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment was set of ideas which mainly was the questioning of tradition, customs, and morals which was mainly from the church, aswell as a strong belief in rationality and science. (Hackett, 1992)

It was hard to say when the start of the age of enlightenment was but most historians simpy use the middle of the seventeenth to beginning of the eighteenth century as a deafly date however some say it started with the Napoleonic Wars (1804-15) or even Britains "Glorious Revolution" (1688). (Frost, 2004)

2. Define the concept of the Sublime.

The exact definition of “the sublime” changes from author to author, but most agree that the sublime

is marked by the grandness, enormity and incomprehensibility by the world around us and gives us a humbling pleasure which is commonly associated with nature like mountains, landscapes and storms. (Stone, 2007)

3. How did the concept of the Sublime come out of the Enlightenment thought?

The concept of the sublime came from a smiler thought process of the Enlightenment but was more about society. However sublime focuses on how insignificant humans are compared to the world as a whole. Before the Enlightenment western society thought they were the center of the world which could be demonstrated by how they thought they were the center of the universe and Galileo Galilei proved that we were not. With the idea of reasoning with scientific fact from the Enlightenment it was very humbling and showed how insignificant humans are compared to the vastness of the natural world. (Whitlock, 2004)

4. Discuss the subject matter, and aesthetic (look) of Misrach's work to identify the Sublime in his work. Add some more images of his work.

Playground and Shell Refinery, Norco, Louisiana (1998) Richard Misrach

World's Fastest Mobile Home (96mph), Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah (1992)

With Misrachs work he always has some form of society represented either by man or a common object or scene which is necessary to explain the idea of sublime. I particularly like how he has developed from having just nature and using a city landscape in "Playground and Shell Refinery"

In terms of the aesthetics of his work i like the balance between the representation of society to the landscape and how it still has a strong relationship even though the scale is way out of proportion. Also the placement he uses is very central based which I think supports the idea of the sublime swell.

He says "Both in reality and metaphorically the ocean is just this vast unknown for us. It’s the ultimate definition of the sublime because we’re in awe of it—its glory and its beauty—but it’s still really scary and dangerous." which confirms his understanding of the sublime in his works.

5. Identify some other artists or designers that work with ideas around the Sublime, from the Enlightenment era as well as contemporary artists.

J. M. W. Turner

William Pars (1742-1782): "A Bridge near Mont Grimsel", n.d.

The Nile River, Van Diemen's Land, from Mr. Glover's Farm, by John Glover, 1835. Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide.

Olafur Eliasson’s 'The Weather Project’ (2003)

6. How does Misrach's photography make you feel? Does it appeal to your imagination?

In his photos of the beaches and ocean i find it is very transcendent and easy to look and reflect upon. I find myself imagining myself in the vastness with a sense of ease and humbleness. Living in modern society we find ourselves not simply appreciating our surroundings but looking at his work he almost locks you in a trance of bliss from your normal life.

7. Add a Sublime image of your choice to your blog, which can be Art or just a Sublime photograph.

References:

Whitlock, D. L. (2004). Galileo Galilei. Retrieved from StarChild Nasa: http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/whos_who_level2/galileo.html

Frost, M. (2004). The Age Of The Enlightenment. Retrieved from Martin Frost: http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/enlightenment_age.html

Hackett, L. (1992). Age Of Enlightenment. Retrieved from History World: http://history-world.org/age_of_enlightenment.htm

Stone, J. (2007). The Sublime.