The Human Figure in the Photography of Inter-War Modernism

Description

Since the beginnings of the medium, the human figure has often been invisible in photographs of buildings. While in 19th and early 20th century photography this has generally been attributed to the technical limitations of the camera, it is a recurrent assumption that the absence of people in architectural imagery of the 1920s and 30s was a more deliberate choice. What happens then when people do become visible? This seminar will look at how the human figure is used by inter-war photographers, as well as the way they 'staged' their compositions to hint at the human presence.

 

VALERIA CARULLO is curator of photography at the Royal Institute of British Architects. Her background includes an MA in architecture and an extended collaboration with architectural photographer Richard Bryant. Valeria has curated exhibitions at the RIBA and other cultural institutions, given numerous talks and written several articles on both architecture and photography.

 

Open to all. No registration required.

Part of Photography between Invisibility and the Unseen Research Group Seminar Series 

Administrative assistance: gradfac@crassh.cam.ac.uk