Photographers Direct

Saturday, 2 July 2016

Photographers Direct : Not Just Photographs

We are mad about all types of images at Photographers Direct, which might surprise you if you think we are just about photographs. Many of our world-wide team of contributors specialise in assembling libraries of illustrations, book-covers, paintings, posters, advertisements, caricature drawings, lithographs, and woodcuts, to name but a few types of media.

I was reminded of this when I began using the Photographers Direct search tool to look for examples of Art Nouveau graphic design. You know how it is when you start using a search engine, and before long I had meandered way off my intended goal, distracted by serendipitous gems that lured me onto further discoveries that in turn suggested other search terms.

Here are a few catches from my unintended trawl which I reluctantly had to throw back.

For a start, I simply adore the character of the black cat in this Art Nouveau poster, advertising an auction of items from the famous Chat Noir cabaret of Fin de Siecle Paris.

It is of course a Steinlen poster, and as I love his cats I just had to search for more. Here's another, advertising pure sterilised milk from the Vingeanne, and again Steinlen has imbued his felines with such forceful character that the poor girl looks rather apprehensive. Anyone who has had a hungry cat stare at you whilst you are eating will know the feeling.

The flat red expanses make me think of the illustrations of Aubrey Beardsley, and my search brings up a resonant image. This is a graphic of Aubrey's for Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde, and (spoiler alert) it isn't sterilised milk in the cup!

The Wagner connection makes me wonder if there are any German examples of Art Nouveau in the PD collection. I find this poster for a children's magazine which is striking in its simplicity of form and colour, as a poster should be. 'More colourful illustrations of the Wide World' it declares, but is curiously almost monochrome except for those red circles like glowing eyes.

From Germany I explore the Wide World to Russia, and this poster for Georg Borman drinking chocolate catches my eye. You can almost hear the chef whistling as he brings you your drink, all done with just a simple lithographic outline and blocks of colour.

If I think of early twentieth century Russian poster-art though, I think of the powerful propaganda posters of the Revolution. Photographers Direct does not disappoint, and I am struck by this Communist Poster: 'We Shall Win!'.

By now I am straying well beyond my brief for a graphic that is as joyous and frivolous as Art Nouveau. The thing with the Photographers Direct website is that we have added searchable tags to all the images. When you find an image that you like, there is a drop-down list of tags for that image, and when you click on one of them, it takes you to all the other images with the same tag. That is either a useful tool for finding similar images so that you can find the exact one you are looking for, or it is a procrastinator's dream, as you can soon fritter away your time like a kitten chasing sunbeams.

Finally then, something light and happy in the Art Nouveau style I was looking for. And it just so happens that there is a cat in there, as well as a glass of Dubonnet. Santé!

All images are copyright of the individual image libraries and can be purchased full-sized for publishing or personal use through the Photographers Direct website.

Friday, 1 April 2016

Procession of Silence in San Luis Potosi, Mexico

“The only sound is the beating of the drums to keep the pace, and the bugles to announce entry of one of the Cofradia. It rather gives one the chills the first time you attend.” George Olney has been talking to us about The Procession of Silence in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Procession Of Silence image at Photographers Direct

Photographer George Olney has sent us some powerful images from this year's Procession of Silence (Procesión Del Silencio Potosina) held annually every Good Friday in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

The procession follows the journey Jesus Christ is believed to have made on the day of his crucifixion, from being condemned to death, to carrying his cross to Mount Calvary, to being crucified, taken down, and laid in his tomb. It is a centuries-old Christian tradition that is re-enacted across the World during Lent, but not usually so atmospherically or on such a grand scale as at San Luis Potosi.

In San Luis Potosi this symbolic journey between each Station of the Cross (as they are known in Western Christian tradition) covers 5 kilometres of city streets in the historic centre of the city. George Olney tells us: "I counted on the map today, and the procession covers 24 city blocks. You should imagine city blocks like in European cities, not US or Canadian." Painting the scene, he says "Many people do not realize that in the time of the Spanish silver and gold mine occupation, and the revolution, San Luis Potosi was one of Mexico greatest cities, so its Centro Histórico area is quite Spanish."

The original concept of creating halting-places representative of Jesus' journey through Jerusalem to his crucifixion seems to have originated with the Franciscan brotherhood. They had been granted custodianship of holy sites in Palestine in the fourteenth century, and during the fifteenth and sixteenth century they had begun to create outdoor shrines in Europe to duplicate the originals.

But it seems to be another holy order, the Carmelites or Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, who brought the tradition to Mexico. George again: "My understanding is that some time around 1600, the Padres Carmelitas brought the tradition to Mexico. I can verify that the Carmelite branch here in San Luis is very active in the event. Then again it depends on whom you talk to. Religion seems to have its own conflicting histories."

George tells us that "the event is put on by Cofradias, which translates directly to Brotherhoods. These are local community churches, that each present their unique interpretations of the 14 stations of the cross. For example, Cofradia Carmelitana presents its interpretation of the Jesus muere en la Cruz Christ dead/dying on the cross. This Cofradia has coffee coloured robes, with white 'Capuchas' - the traditional pointed cone hats." I learn this whilst co-coincidently sipping a cappuccino coffee, and am reminded that cappuccino is derived from the Latin version of a little capucha by way of the colour of the hoods worn by certain Franciscan monks.

But I digress. Can you tell us George when the procession in San Luis Potosi was established? "The exact first procession date varies, but legally, the Public Service Corporation, A.C. in Mexican law, was started in 1966. This is the date I use, and the Traditions Committee uses. However, there was a small Procession published in the paper in 1954."

The procession is decades old then, rather than centuries. But my lasting impressions from Geroge's photos is of how mediaeval it looks. It is following the beat of a drum that has led the religious faithful in Western Europe and, by trade and conquest, Meso- and South America, since the earliest days of Christianity.

Today it is a big event that attracts numerous visitors from across Mexico and beyond, and involves the whole city. George tells us "As an extranjero (foreigner) I am always shocked as to how all the one million residents of San Luis Potosi seem to end up at the Procession! Banks are closed, stores are closed, all taxis are heading down town. It starts at 8 pm, but many families make a day of it."

What is unique about the Procession of Silence, aside from its scale, is that it is held in total silence by the participants and the spectators. It is a sombre, religious event. They are taking part in someone's last hours before a dreadfully painful and long-drawn out death. Someone the faithful believe died to save the whole of humanity.

George Olney describes the silence: "All cell phones are turned off by law. If one did ring, I think the owner would be stoned to death. I have never heard one go off. The only sound is the beating of the drums to keep the pace, and the bugles to announce entry of one of the Cofradia. Rather gives one the chills first time you attend."

I feel a chill myself looking into George's photos of the procession. His images are haunting in their timelessness, in the palpable aura of mystery and deeply held belief. It makes me want to take part in the parade in 2017, though I am not Roman Catholic and can speak only the most meagre of Spanish. I know it is just a dream, but I can content myself at least by viewing the event by proxy of George's lens. And at least I don't need to turn my mobile phone off whilst doing it.

All images are copyright © George Olney. Publishers interested in using these images can contact George by clicking on any of the links below and using the enquiry form on the Photographers Direct website.

Procession Of Silence image at Photographers Direct