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| Hannah Maynard, Self Portrait- Trick Photography, 1893 (source) |
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| Hannah Maynard, Captain Jack, chief of the Rupert Indians with his wife, 1868-78 (source) |
The Maynards did Landscape photography, but Hannah also did these wonderful 'trick-photograph' self portraits- in which there are several 'Hannah Maynards' all serving tea to each other and looking at art etc. They are really spectacular. These photos wouldn't be out of place in a modern gallery except we'd all be talking about post-modern ideas of the self, and service and motherhood, and a woman's position, or possibly mental health, or spirituality or something, but because they're old you just sort of have the sense that they're really about the technical aspects of the medium, about exploring what she could do in the darkroom. They're probably really about both.
I think what I like best about these photos is that it gives a sense of who she was. That is so rare- to see people from that long ago and find a sense of kinship with them- that it happens with these photographs, that you feel as though you could sit down to tea and have a chat with this lady and it wouldn't be totally alien, like you get a glimpse of her as a real person, is extraordinary.
Monday Inspiration 2014 is all about re-discovering Canadian Artists. After completing a bachelor of fine art from a Canadian University you would think that you'd be well versed in Canadian art- but actually -not so much. Ask me about renaissance, or abstract expressionism, and I'm well versed, but beyond the Group of Seven or Emily Carr I'm a bit lost when it comes to my own countrymen- (let alone country women!).
I'm not really meaning to do all women- but so far that's pretty much been so- I figure that the male artists are pretty well represented so I'll try to highlight more female artists than men- though I'm not doing only women. If you can think of anyone else you think I should look at leave a note in the comments- I'd love to hear from you!
I recently had the chance to visit Emily Carr's old house in Victoria. What a delight! Although I'd read about her and knew of her work (of course) I didn't know as much about her childhood. Getting to know the artist on a more personal level really made her pieces much more interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe trick photo is a bit about the never-ending circle of futility of life in a way too.
"I keep going to a lot of places and ending up somewhere I’ve already been." Don Draper...MadMen.
bisous
Suzanne
Yes! the never ending circle of tea pouring- of women's work, of life- interesting way to look at it.
DeleteI would say it shows what a great sense of humour she had! She must also have been a very adventurous woman, especially for her times. I wonder how much of an oevre she and her husband left behind. The shot of Captain Jack must have significance for historical archives.
ReplyDeleteHer work does have much significance in historical photos and portraits, I think her trick photography was a side thing- more of a hobby- but looking back on it I think it's almost more significant than the regular portraits.
DeleteI was just scrolling through your blogposts and am finding them very interesting. I think the photographer/artist that did the tea pouring photo was quite ahead of her time. The photo is really remarkable to me. (I'm not an artist nor do I know art BTW) Have you done a post on Molly Lamb Bobak of Fredericton, NB. She recently passed away as did her husband, Bruno Bobak. They were very well known artists and did artwork overseas during WWII. Just a suggestion. ;) Also I have a distant cousin (deceased), Lucy Jarvis who was quite an artist. She was connected to UNB and there is going to be an exhibit of her work there this summer which I hope to take in. And I can go way back to a male artist in our family tree, Xenathan Cleaveland, formerly of Moncton, NB. I'm not sure of the spelling of his first name but it's a Bible name I believe. My cousin has a few of his paintings. Just a few NB artists for you to research. :) Pam
ReplyDeleteOh thanks for the suggestions! I do know of Molly Lamb Bobak- but have sort of forgotten about her she's remarkable int hat she was one of the only female war artists- though now that I write that I'm not sure if she was actually a sanctioned war artist or just an artists who was also a nurse...
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