Alabama Farm Interior (Fields Family Cabin), 1936
© Walker Evans

In hopes of sparking a discussion, I thought I’d share this essay that I came across recently by Caroline Blinder (lecturer in English and American Literature at Goldsmiths College, University of London) entitled “The Transparent Eyeball”: On Emerson and Walker Evans.

Taking Emerson’s “Nature” as a starting point, this paper argues that in Lincoln Kirstein’s and William Carlos William’s readings of Evans as a visionary artist of the vernacular, Emersonian ideals were always part and parcel of the search for an intrinsically American manifesto of photography.

This particular text might appeal more to some of you than others, but I imagine there could be a very interesting dialogue surrounding Blinders ideas in general. I’d love to hear what you all think after reading.

If you’re interested, download the printer-friendly PDF.

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