Fifty Artists Record Acts of Love

For more than a century, photography has given viewers a fresh perspective of the subjects and themes captured by its lens. Now through June 25, Katonah Museum of Art will delve into one of photography’s most common themes – love. Picturing Love: Photography’s Pursuit of Intimacy looks at the central role that photography has played in the documentation of private life. The exhibition, which will be divided into sections such as “kissing,” “holding” and “mothering,” will represent the ways in which its 50 exhibiting artists record acts of love – whether through familial affection or romantic engagements.

Facilitated by this theme is also an exploration of how changes in photographic technology, and in social norms, affect how love looks today. For instance, in contrast to our ability to instantly record and distribute our sentiments in today’s society, posed 19th century photographs added an element of formality.

Activities related to the exhibition, such as building a pinhole camera and designing a scrapbook, are planned for children and families throughout the run of the show. A discussion with art dealers about the photography market will also take place on March 23. For more info, visit: katonahmuseum.org.

A version of this article first appeared in the March 2017 issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews. 

Image above: Untitled (Double Self-Portrait) by Tracey Baran