Floyd and Lucille Burroughs; Walker Evans (American, 1903 – 1975); 1936
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Whether he is an artist or not, the photographer is a joyous sensualist, for the simple reason that the eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts.
—Walker Evans
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I am a big fan of the photos of Walker Evans. Some of my early Exiles paintings were inspired by his Depression era work, many of which were captured in a landmark book, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men,. Written by James Agee, the book is a document of the two men’s journey through the American south during that trying time.
I came across this quote from Evans and it made me appreciate his work even more. The idea that the eye traffics in feelings and not in thoughts is a simple one but it cuts right to the truth as any artist knows it to be. Art, whatever medium in which it takes place in, comes far before thought. It is that reaction, that feeling that hits you before your brain even begins to fully process what you are seeing that is the engine of art.
It is the feeling that bring on real thought afterwards. Allan artist can hope for their work.
I like seeing it put that way. And Mr. Evans certainly trafficked in feelings as the artist and joyous sensualist he was.
Here are just a tiny bit of his works.
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Online Publications Edited By Michelle Ma for TOAH 11_23_15
What a wonderful collection of images, and a provocative thought to go with them. Now that I’ve pondered it for a few minutes, I’ve decided Evans is right. The best example I can remember comes from the day I visited an exhibit of post-impressionist paintings here in Houston. I rounded a corner and came face to face with Mary Cassat’s “Child in a Straw Hat.” It stopped me cold, as the saying goes. I couldn’t leave the painting; I just stood there and stared at it, without a thought in my head.
Later, there would be time to think about it, and learn something about its genesis, but at the time, it was a purely emotional reaction. I often respond that way to other paintings and photographs, but that was a memorable experience.
Exactly!