Benjamin and Atget: the “Rebirth” of Photography at the Beginning of the 20th Century
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2318-9800.v30i3p91-108Keywords:
Walter Benjamin, Eugène Atget, Photography, Aura, Technical reproductionAbstract
The philosophy of Walter Benjamin and the photography of Eugène Atget establish a significant relationship, precisely because they are at the intersection of art and history. Benjamin thematized the nature of the modern aesthetic experience; Atget captured urban scenes, which striking characteristic was the absence of the human figure. This approach inspired Benjamin, who recognized in Atget’s revolutionary potential. Thus, it is above all on this potential that this article will seek to dwell, since we assume that their convergent views on visual perception and the preservation of the past through photography enable a new perspective for understanding contemporaneity.
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