Every once in a while there is a scandal about the appropriation of images. We had two lately, the affair about the original image that was used by Shepard Fairey for the famous Obama “HOPE” icon, and Richard Prince being sued, but of course this comes up every once in a while.
Now, the question really is, when is using art in arts simply appropriation and plagiarism, and when does it produce a work that stands for its own? Is this something to be avoided? And if so, is it just to play safe, or do you feel a deeper moral obligation? Or is art just another subject of art?
Well, I don’t know if Rembrandt had objected against my use of a poster for his exhibition, but I guess I would not object against finding one of my images in a Rembrandt painting 🙂
Both of today’s images were shot with my new Nikon AF-S 35/1.8G. This is a fine lens and I may write more of a review-type post this weekend, but to wrap it up in one statement I might say: If you are a Nikon DX format shooter, get this lens!
Both of today’s images? Well, yes, the Rembrandt poster with the traffic in the background, and the image of the trees that I have overlaid 🙂
The Song of the Day is “This Sad Burlesque” from the 1993 Elvis Costello / Brodsky Quartet collaboration “The Juliet Letters”. I have no more samples than what Amazon provides (click the ad), but YouTube has a live performance of another piece from the album. This is one classic album not to be missed. Highly recommended!