Formalism in Art

Formalism in Art
• It is about analysis of it’s physical world

• Formalism concentrates on the way Art is Made and Look – Like

• Formalism is used in Straight Photography Movement and Paintings, Drawing

• 1890 was found in painting

• In Photography, it is more about Language of Photography

 Formalism in Art
• In Formalism, Form and Physical Presentation of Framing is more
value – able

• It is surrounding by Visual Aspects

• It created to give a answer to Impressionism and Post Impressionism

Painters

• Message is not an element

 Formalism in Art
• Compared to Story or Narrative Content, it is based on Aesthetics of
Art
• Use of Lighting
• Use of Composition
• Use of Framing
• Use of Subject Presentation
• Use of Movements in Still Photography
• Use of Colour or Monochromatic or Acro
 Formalism in Art
• In this, photographer becomes a Visual Designer, in which
Photography Aesthetics, Rules of Aesthetics, Photography Art by
Visual Theories and Designing – are matters more
• It is more dominant argumentation

• Formalism is dominant over Subject Matter or Story Telling

• After Paintings and Drawing Art, Formalism came into Still Life,
Portrait, Landscape, Photo Journalism and Fashion Photography
 Formalism in Art
• As we can see name, it is more about Form of visual Aesthetics
(Shapes, Lines, Perspective, Camera Angle, Light Direction, Texture,
Surface etc.)

• In Art Criticism – Structural elements that are always discernible to

the eyes that which we call Formalism in Art

• Initially Aristotle, Plato, and Immanuel Kant worked on this philosophy

(In which, they talked about structure behaviour of art)
 Formalism in Art
• In Modernism Art Movement, Formalism reached to its high development point
(between 1905 to 1950s)

• Remember that Formalism talked about “Arrangement and Explanation of Langue

of Photography Elements

• Character of Geometry, Symmetry, Asymmetrical, Perspective, Tone or Shades of

Colour used

• Margaret Bourke White, Boris Ignatovich, Brett Weston, Edward Weston, Eric
Tabuchi,
 Formalism in Art
• Best Example of Formalism in Fashion is IRVING PENN

• In 1940 to 1989, he used formalism in his fashion photography

• Penn’s portrait and ethnographic portrait in Peru, Morocco and Nude

shoot are example of it

• Another example is Guy Bourdin

 Formalism in Art
• Now search, any 10 photographers, who used formalism in fashion,
portrait in between 1930s to 2000
 Non Formalist Approach
• Anti Art

• Anti Aesthetic

• Anti Structuralism

• More about Subject, Connotative, Theme, Story

 Non Formalist Photographers
• Brad Elterman
• Peter Lindbergh
• Lillian Bassman