Thursday, July 14, 2022

Salvage Paradigm

The Flute Player is an 1867 portrait by Antoine Plamondon.


Nearby, a portrait by Joseph Legare, circa 1840. Josephte Ourne is thought to be the daughter of an Indigenous chief.


The idea of the salvage paradigm is an early 20th century anthropology idea that it is 'necessary to preserve so called weaker cultures from destruction by the dominant culture.' In the 19th century this was already underway in art- to study and record indigenous cultures before they disappeared. It was in this spirit that Paul Kane went into the Canadian West to paint. This work, circa 1851-56, is titled Fort Garry and St. Boniface, depicting the Red River and what is now Winnipeg, Manitoba.


Big Snake, Chief Of The Blackfoot Indians, Recounting His War Exploits To Five Subordinate Chiefs is the title of this Kane painting done in those same years.


And another Kane painting from those years: White Mud Portage, Winnipeg River.


I finish today with two portraits that are side by side. Mrs. John Beverley Robinson is an 1845 portrait by George Berthon that I find enchanting.


From the same year, a different artist. John Bell-Smith painted Miss Amelia Boddy.

28 comments:

  1. It´s the fine arts!
    Looking at is good - no flute-playing in here, though.

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  2. The Winnipeg River landscape is a favourite.

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  3. Difficult to pick a favourite today.

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  4. ...this was a wonderful display.

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  5. Beautiful paintings, a lovely exhibit. Take care, have a great day!

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  6. @Iris: nor here either.

    @Italiafinlandia: it's well done.

    @David: definitely.

    @Gemel: each have appeal.

    @Tom: I thought so too.

    @Eileen: thank you.

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  7. I'd never heard of the salvage paradigm. Interesting thought though...as I love archeological history.

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  8. Great to see women represented in that second photo!

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  9. Nice exhibition and paintings.

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  10. I also like Paul Kane's work.

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  11. Buenos retratos de una excelente galería.
    Besos.

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  12. I really like the flute player. He has a look!

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  13. Whew, beautiful portraits all, but I'll have to think* about that salvage paradigm. Does it mean that it was OK that the "weaker" cultures would be lost but that the paintings and writings were enough so that they wouldn't be forgotten? (I'll read your words more carefully and do some google research. Gosh, this thinking* stuff is hard on an aging brain.) Seriously, thanks for this and as always for your great photo journalism!

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  14. The Indian Chief's daughter is beautiful, she has almost like an oriental look about her

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  15. @Barbara: I heard it in an anthropology class.

    @RedPat: that they are.

    @Magiceye: I think so.

    @Marie: yes it is.

    @Sharon: indeed.

    @Bill: thank you.

    @Maywyn: thanks.

    @Red: I do as well.

    @Ventana: thanks.

    @Jeanie: so he does.

    @Sallie: I suppose it depends on one's perspective. These days it is very much about protection.

    @Amy: it's quite a painting.

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  16. Very nice!! Wow.

    Thanks for your comment on my post about my new lack of voting. I used to think that too.

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  17. Favorite is always the First Nation ~ good art exhibit photos ~

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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