ARTalk with Thomas Brenner: The History of Photography

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To Seize the Light: The History of Photography Part 1 will focus on Invention to Pictorialism primarily during the 19th century and earlier.

The term Photography, derived from the Greek, means “Drawing with Light.” Since the invention of the camera, every photograph has served as a newly minted record of the world. As renowned photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson observed, a photograph can “fix eternity in an instant.” This visual survey with Thomas Brenner, Professor of Art and Design, Housatonic Community College, will explore the evolution of photography from the camera obscura of the classical world to the digital technology of today. Iconic, world-famous photographs and fragile, intimate reflections will be presented through images captured by inventors and artists, past and present, who have enabled and crafted the history of photography.

Thomas Brenner Biography

This ARTalk will be presented by Thomas Brenner, Professor of Art and Design at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport CT, where he presents a course on The History of Photography among other subjects. Brenner previously taught at Sacred Heart University and Silvermine School of Art. He holds a BA in Fine Art from Yale University and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College. Over the years, Brenner has delivered lectures and presentations on a number of topics including The Art of Pastel, The History of Spatial Representation in Two-Dimensional Art, and The Significance of Light in the Visual Arts. Brenner’s artwork includes photography, oils, acrylic, pastel, and a variety of drawing materials and is held in museum, corporate, and private collections. Commercial clients include Walt Disney Corporation, Sony Corporation, Time magazine, Warner Brothers, and Turner Broadcasting. He has been represented by Frank and Jeff Lavaty and Associates in New York City for more than 25 years. 

The Library’s ARTalk series is dedicated to exploring the creative process through lectures, films, and workshops that focus on art, architecture, and design. ARTalks are co-sponsored by the Ridgefield Library, Ridgefield Guild of Artists and, in part, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum and also in partnership with the Kunhardt Film Foundation.