the original hi-def

rembrandt.

ok. maybe not original, but certainly early hi-def.

the cincinnati art museum had a show of three self-portraits of rembrandt's, spanning his life. you can see some of his chin hair. wrinkles in his skin. every glimmer on his jewelry. every last detail.

but as i stood there, examining, getting as close as i could to the glass without touching it... and then moving to a bench in the corner, i noticed something odd about the small gallery. it was long and skinny, and on one side hung the paintings. on the other, opposite to each painting, was a long paragraph about each piece. there were more people studying the paragraphs than the paintings themselves. they would turn to the paintings, but only spend a fraction of the time with the painting that they did with the information.

i read that museums are experiencing higher attendance. blockbuster art exhibitions have made more and more people interested in going to museums. but for what? have do more people to love art? are more people challenged by art? moved by art? or do we just consume art?

james elkins addressed this some in pictures and tears. i may have to go back to that book... or something else he has written.