Reaction to Photosculptures

The Reading

My Reaction

Reading about Francois Willeme’s photosculptures in mid-1800s France sparked a few reactions from me. First, I’m stunned that he and other French sculptors of the time were automating camera networks (activating quarter plate cameras with one trigger) and seeking to automate the sculpture making process. Historically, since the Industrial Revolution had long started in European factories at that point, it makes a lot of sense artist merchants started considering their processes as manufacturing and their products as commodities with profit margins. Yet, 3D software modeling and volumetric capture feel like such new and cutting-edge technologies now, but the French sculptors of the 1800s were basically doing that pretty closely with clay and photography. However, it seems like there were no advancements from photosculpture to current 3D tech for a century?  Is it because they stopped making busts and the Great Wars took away all focus? Were busts too old money/stuffy by the 20th century? 

Another item that caught my attention in the article was the analogy that Baudelaire made for volumetric capturing and sculpture. From the article: “Photosculpture was simply a tool for the sculptor to use in the same fashion that photography, according to Baudelaire, was a handmaiden to the art of painting, and was not an art in itself.” I do not agree with Baudelaire likening photography to be the handmaiden to painting, yet there’s something to this analogy when applied to volumetric capturing and 3D software. Is volumetric scanning simply a handmaiden to game engines/CAD software/videos? Is it just a mere asset creation tool and not a true in and of itself? There are not exhibits in town anywhere currently showing gaussian splat scans of people and objects (maybe there is deep somewhere in Bushwick/Queens, I don’t know). Even for this class, we are using scanning in order to serve a larger project in Unreal or a video in After Effects. On the other hand, I do wonder if this new technology is waiting for a great artist/movement to wield it properly in order to make something great in its own form, and we have to be patient with figuring out this medium. My wonder is supported by the conclusion of this article when the author highlighted Rodin as a user of this photosculpture method to make a Great Piece of Art. Who will be the Rodin of Gaussian Splats? I don’t think it will be me, but here’s hoping.