Steve McCurry
“Afghan Girl” In June 1985, National Geographic published a photo that changed history. - By Stephanie Buckley
While on assignment in Pakistan for the magazine, Steve McCurry stumbled upon a girl named Sharbat Gula, a refugee during the time of the Soviet occupationof Afghanistan. The image McCurry captured of the girl received worldwide attention and many compared the photograph to the Mona Lisa, many coming to refer to Gula as the Afghan Mona Lisa. As a photographer myself, this portrait is striking because it shows how one image can capture such an intensity of emotion that it captivates an entire world. Free of the fancy editing of Photoshop or other design softwares, McCurry's image is beauty in its rawest form—beauty found in the dirt that speckles Gula'sface, in the worn cloth surrounding her head and shoulders, and in the dry, almost cold eyes of the young girl who's seen too much pain for her age. McCurry was able to create a piece of art without using props, a studio, fancy lighting, elegant makeup, or expensive clothing. It is hard to imagine that, in just 27 years, photography has been totally revolutionized. Photographs are no longer captured on film, but rather SD cards and computer chips. Images no longer need to be developed in a dark room; rather, they can be viewed and deleted instantly on the camera itself. However, it is the iconic and legendary photographs like McCurry's Afghan Girl that remind us to not get bogged down in technological advances and, instead, view nature, people, and things in their most natural form—beautiful in their rawness, in their flaws and unique traits. When we can do this, we can share our experiences with the world in such a way that anyone who views our art can feel what we or the subject felt when the image was captured. Photography has a majestic way of uniting strangers, promoting empathy and love, and informing people about the issues that go unnoticed in everyday life. Gula's eyes tell a haunting story—of loss, pain, fear, but also strength and hope. The young refugee experienced more than many American children do today; however, this photograph is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the beauty of every human life. Such an image, carrying a strong message about war, humanity, and human endurance, can change the world if we allow it to.
Séraphine
Séraphine Louis, Feuilles, 1928-29, Collection Dina Vierny
Louis de Senlis
- by Stephanie Buckley
Seraphine Louis is a relatively little-known 20th century artist. I personally first learned about her when I stumbled on a movie about her on Netflix. While watching the movie, I began to wonder why I had never learned or heard of this beautiful artist and afterward, I looked her up on the web and was welcomed to the wonderful world of her beautiful paintings. Through my research and the movie about her, I learned that Seraphine was a poor woman, self-taught in her skills, and was inspired by her belief in God. To paint, Louis used colors and pigments that she had handmade from unusual and exotic ingredients - a testament to the creative genius that feuled her work. What I love most about Seraphine Louis, however, is that she is among the few artists who broke the class barrier and challenged the popular notion of what an artist. When I look at a painting done by Seraphine, I see more than brush strokes and colorful shapes. I see a woman's passion, emotion, beliefs, and struggle to share beauty with the world. At times, when I can fell myself beginning to see the world through her eyes, I begin to wonder what were the thoughts that ran through her mind during the time of each creation - what was she thinking when she painted this? What had inspired her? What emotions was she feeling—joy, sadness, anger, rapture? For many, sharing a piece of your art is like baring your soul for all to see — there is vulnerability, honesty, confession; and I, as a viewer more often than not, am so grateful people like Seraphine Louis had the courage to share herself through the art of painting.