CURRENT LITER-A TURE.
ART•BOOKS.
La Photograph;e est ells an Art? Par R. de in Sizeranne. (Hachette. 10 fr.)—The author answers the question asked by his title as to whether photography is an art in the affirmative. He says that a European movement is taking place among photo- graphers, which is leading to important results. We agree with M. de in Sizeranne when he says that people have blamed photo- graphy when they ought to have blamed the photographers. The aim of the old, and at present dominant, class is to produce a plate in which the maximum of detail and facts are perceptible. For this reason it is that they have invented a series of rules, which are carefully taught to beginners. Photographing in the direction of the sun is to be avoided because haziness is the result, and elaborate machinery is prescribed for including as much of a view as possible, when a much better picture would result with but a part. The new photographers go to Nature, not with the intention of bringing back as much microscopic detail as their apparatus will produce, but of securing, if possible, a picture. "If an old dark-room professional follows them and observes, he is astonished and scandalised. He sees them stop in front of a place empty of subject,' a void. There, he perceives with horror that his younger brethren place themselves against the light facing the sun." It is thus the author describes the practice of the new photographers, and in his book he gives us specimens of their work. Very beautiful some of them are, both landscape and figures. We cannot help thinking that landscapes are the best, and among these must be mentioned the rainy sky by Hugo geuneberg. Of the figures, the least posed are the most interesting. Mr. Craig Annan's plate of two white monks walking along is quite delightful, and as good as an etching in its qualities of selection, while M. Bremard's " Profil Perdu" might be a photograph of a fine work by Burne-Jones.
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