interesting papers to read 7
Piero Giacomelli
CIO | Group IT Manager at Fidia Farmaceutici SpA | Packtpub Book Author | Manning Publication Reviewer | Passionate about math
Today I propose something link to art with a touch of computers in between
"Paintings by Turner and Monet depict trends in 19th century air pollution"
by Anna Lea Albright
The article investigates the possibility that the hazy and muted colors in some paintings by 19th century artists such as J.M.W. Turner and Claude Monet may be due to the effects of air pollution. The authors used a technique called "image analysis" to quantify the amount of haze and whiteness in the paintings, and then compared these measurements to independent estimates of historical air pollution levels. They found that there is a statistically significant correlation between the two, suggesting that the artists were indeed painting the world as they saw it, with all its haze and pollution.
The authors also looked at the letters and writings of the artists, and found that they often commented on the poor air quality in their cities. For example, Turner wrote in a letter in 1843 that "the air is so thick with smoke that I can scarcely see the Houses of Parliament." This suggests that the artists were aware of the effects of air pollution on their work, and that they may have even been trying to capture the hazy atmosphere in their paintings.
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The findings of this study have implications for our understanding of 19th century art. It suggests that the Impressionists were not simply painting "impressions" of the world, but that they were also responding to the real environmental conditions of their time. It also raises the question of whether air pollution has influenced the development of art throughout history.
In addition to the scientific findings, the article also discusses the ethical implications of using paintings to study air pollution. The authors argue that it is important to be respectful of the artists' work, and that we should not simply dismiss their paintings as "polluted." They also suggest that we should use the findings of this study to raise awareness of the environmental impacts of air pollution, and to encourage people to take action to reduce it.
Overall, this is a fascinating study that provides new insights into the relationship between art and air pollution. It is a reminder that the world that artists depict is not always the world that we see, and that it can be shaped by the environmental conditions of their time. The findings of this study also have important implications for our understanding of the history of art, and for our efforts to protect the environment.