13 at the Met
If you are heading to NYC before Sept. 1, take time to visit the “Framing a Century” (1840-1940 ) exhibit there. And if not? Well, take a short trip at your leisure and see the a dozen or so images from the exhibit online in the comfort of your own computer chair. That’s what I did. Each image can be enlarged enough to be studied without squinting.
Thirteen photographers revered by photography historians everywhere are featured – from William Henry Fox Talbot to Walker Evans. Almost every twist and turn in the history of the medium is represented and it’s like a visit with old friends.
All images in the exhibit are from the Met’s own photography collection. Everybody will have their favorites, but I went weak in the knees at the first glimpse of Gustave Le Gray’s Tree Study, Forest of Fontainebleau (ca.1856). It is just so lovely, and I had a hard time moving on to the next image.
I got positively light-headed at the sight of Julia Margaret Cameron‘s portrait of Philip Stanhope Worsley (1864-66). How the heck did she pull this off? 
I realized I was holding my breath while studying Carleton Watkins‘ Cape Horn Near Celilo (1867) and then Atget‘s Rue de la Montagne -Sainte Genevieve. They are so fine, there are no words to describe them.
The Brassai is one I’ve never seen before – Introduction at Suzy’s (1932-33) – and the moment he catches is one of a kind.
The Met acquired the priceless Gilman Collection in 2005 and that, together with their own rare holdings, is the source for this exhibit. The extent of the whole archive is hard to get your head around.
I can’t imagine what I’m missing by not seeing this exhibit in person. There’s no catalog to ease the pain. So…heading south, anyone?
