Uncover the Captivating World of Image-Making in Bianca Bosker’s Get the Picture

A Mind-Bending Journey among the Inspired Artists and Obsessive Art Fiends Who Taught Me How to See. Embark on an enthralling journey through the captivating world of image-making with Bianca Bosker’s “Get the Picture.” This thought-provoking book delves into the profound impact of photography on our lives, offering a fresh perspective on how we perceive and interact with the visual world around us.

Discover the hidden secrets behind the images that shape our world and gain a deeper understanding of the art and science of photography by reading this comprehensive summary and review of “Get the Picture” by Bianca Bosker.

Genres

Personal Development, Creativity, Photography, Art, Technology, Culture, History, Sociology, Media Studies, Visual Communication, Digital Arts, Photojournalism

In “Get the Picture,” Bianca Bosker takes readers on a captivating exploration of the world of image-making, delving into the history, technology, and cultural significance of photography. The book offers a comprehensive look at how photographs have shaped our understanding of the world and our place within it, from the earliest daguerreotypes to the ubiquitous digital images of today.

Bosker examines the various roles that photography plays in our lives, from personal memories to political propaganda, and how it has transformed the way we communicate, learn, and experience reality. She also delves into the technical aspects of photography, explaining how cameras work and how digital technology has revolutionized the medium.

Throughout the book, Bosker introduces readers to a diverse cast of characters, including pioneering photographers, visionary inventors, and contemporary artists who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the medium. She also explores the darker side of photography, including issues of privacy, surveillance, and the manipulation of images for nefarious purposes.

Ultimately, “Get the Picture” is a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of the power and potential of photography, offering readers a new appreciation for the images that surround us and the ways in which they shape our understanding of the world.

Review

Bianca Bosker’s “Get the Picture” is a masterful and engaging exploration of the world of photography that is sure to captivate readers from all walks of life. Bosker’s writing is clear, concise, and accessible, making even the most technical aspects of photography easy to understand.

One of the strengths of the book is the way in which Bosker weaves together the technical, historical, and cultural aspects of photography, creating a comprehensive and nuanced portrait of the medium. She also does an excellent job of highlighting the work of a diverse range of photographers, from the pioneers of the medium to contemporary artists who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Another strength of the book is the way in which Bosker explores the darker side of photography, including issues of privacy, surveillance, and the manipulation of images. These chapters are particularly timely and relevant, given the increasing prevalence of digital technology and the ways in which it is being used to shape public opinion and manipulate reality.

Overall, “Get the Picture” is a must-read for anyone interested in photography, art, or the ways in which images shape our understanding of the world. Bosker’s engaging writing style and comprehensive approach make this book a pleasure to read, and the insights and perspectives she offers will stay with readers long after they have finished the final page.

Introduction: Uncover the secrets of the art world

Get the Picture (2024) turns an investigative lens on the complex and often insular world of contemporary art along with its quirks and contradictions. It explores the obsessions that drive artists and collectors, sheds light on the personal and sometimes irrational reasons that art becomes meaningful, and unravels the motivations and passions of artists and collectors to uncover how deeper engagement with art can be achieved.

Have you ever stepped into an art gallery and felt like you were on the outside looking in? As if everyone around you was fluent in a secret visual language that you just couldn’t grasp? You’re not alone, and it’s this very feeling that kicks off the journey in this summary to Get the Picture. Here, the complex world of contemporary art is unraveled, revealing not only those who create art but also those who assign its value – gallerists, collectors, curators, and artists themselves.

Through firsthand adventures – stretching canvases till her fingers blistered, mingling at upscale art parties, becoming part of a live performance piece, and even standing guard in a museum – Bianca Bosker takes us deep into the hidden, often quirky realities of the art world.

If you’re intrigued by art but put off by its elitism, this summary serves as your backstage pass into the heart of the art scene. It breaks down the mystique of the art world, offering a more inclusive perspective.

The art world is exclusive and hostile to outsiders

Finding your way around the art world can feel like cracking a secret code meant only for the elite. It’s an intricate and exclusive social scene. Often, it feels tailor-made to keep those of us who don’t have the right connections, wealth, or tastes out. Like fine wine, art is something we’re told we should appreciate. At the same time, that appreciation is closely linked to social status.

Driven by the fear of missing out on something vitally important, reporter and onetime aspiring artist Bianca Bosker decided to uncover the mysteries of this elusive realm. Growing up, art had been a beloved passion, but over time, a disconnect had developed. Entering an art gallery became isolating, as if everyone else was in on a joke that just flew over her head. Determined to bridge this gap, she set out to develop an eye for contemporary art.

Adopting an undercover approach, similar to her past work in the wine industry, she began applying for jobs in the art world. When she told insiders about her plans, she met resistance and secrecy. But the gatekeepers’ evasion and hostility only sparked further curiosity.

For five years, Bosker worked in some of New York’s most exclusive galleries. She encountered an extravagant world with a dark underbelly: drugs, deceit, and shady financial dealings were common. Art dealers treated artworks as mere commodities, with the artists themselves frequently sidelined from the profits their creations generated.

She also began to understand the stringent set of unspoken rules about appearance, speech, and behavior on which the art world runs – codes that reinforce its exclusivity. These norms do more than maintain an aesthetic; they act as barriers that distinguish insiders from outsiders, the knowledgeable from the novices.

Bosker’s journey wasn’t just about reconnecting with a past love for art; it was an investigative deep dive into how the art world reflects broader societal structures of power and exclusion. The challenge lay not only in understanding art but also in deciphering the complex social cues and hidden rules that define who gets to appreciate and access it.

Ultimately, the art world is about more than just art. It’s about the people, the power plays, and the unwritten codes that determine who is deemed worthy of being part of it. Understanding this world requires perseverance, resilience, and the courage to question and confront established norms. Through this exploration, what emerges is a clearer understanding not only of art but of how elitism shapes our access to beauty and culture.

Art appreciation isn’t about aesthetics – it’s a social game

Embarking on her quest to penetrate the mysterious world of contemporary art, Bosker found herself moonlighting as a novice assistant at 315 Gallery, a high-end art space in downtown Brooklyn run by a charismatic gallerist called Jack Barrett.

Hailed as a beacon for underground art in New York, Barrett’s cultivated demeanor was part of a broader narrative that showed the art world wasn’t just about the art but also about appearances and unspoken codes.

Working as Barrett’s assistant, Bosker began to learn the cultural subtleties that dictate the day-to-day operations of galleries. Barrett’s critique of his new assistant’s wardrobe was an early lesson in the importance of fashion within the art scene. Unlike the sleek and polished looks of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where people dress “as shimmery as baby dolphins,” Brooklyn’s art scene favored a deliberately unkempt aesthetic – think tattoos, ironic tube socks, and patchy dye jobs.

Beyond fashion, the language used within the art world was another gatekeeper. Terms like “beautiful” were shunned for being too simplistic, and sales were couched in euphemisms like “placements,” reflecting a preference for obfuscation and sophistication. This jargon, often referred to as “artspeak,” has evolved into a complex dialect designed to exclude the uninitiated. It traces its roots back to the 1970s when art critics began imitating the dense translations of French academic essays, creating a linguistic barrier as formidable as any physical one.

For Bosker, this was a form of “strategic snobbery.” This strategy isn’t only about maintaining exclusivity but also directing the narrative around art. For instance, museum wall texts, which often emphasize the context of an artwork rather than the work itself, reflect this focus. These texts seem almost hostile to the average viewer, filled with dense, academic language that obscures rather than illuminates, leading us to feel more alienated than educated.

Reading such texts and listening to gallerists talk about art, Bosker came to feel that the art world places immense value on the backstory of an artwork – the artist’s education, their personal connections, and the prestige of their exhibitions. Discussions rarely centered on the work itself but on its surrounding context and, especially, who owns it. Understanding art, Bosker concluded, is as much about decoding these social intricacies as it is about visual appreciation.

Contemporary art is all about sales, but some customers are more valuable than others

If you want to understand elitism and exclusivity in the contemporary art world, there’s no better place to look than Manhattan’s storied galleries.

These spaces aren’t just physically elusive, often tucked away without signage or obvious access – they’re also culturally gated. Even if you do manage to find the entrance to one of these galleries, and even if you have enough money to buy the art on display, there’s a good chance you won’t be welcome there.

Why not? Well, these galleries operate under the assumption that obscurity adds to their allure, turning their inaccessibility into a symbol of status and exclusivity. For gallery owners, the general public, often dismissively referred to as “Joe Schmoes,” isn’t the intended audience.

The reasons for this exclusivity are twofold. Having a gallery in a street-level, easy-to-find location might attract random visitors with no serious interest in purchasing art. These incidental visitors might use the gallery merely as a shelter on rainy days or a quiet place for phone calls, so not contributing to the gallery’s primary function, which is to sell artworks.

But while gallerists are in the business of selling art, they don’t want to sell to just anyone. The goal isn’t simply to move inventory; social cachet is just as important, if not more so. The ideal purchasers are those who can elevate an artist’s work simply by owning it. These are individuals deeply embedded within the art scene – people who own collections, sit on museum boards, or are considered influencers. Their involvement with a piece of art can significantly increase its perceived value and the prestige of the artist’s other works.

So the process of buying art in such galleries isn’t a straightforward commercial transaction but a carefully curated event. Potential buyers may find themselves on waitlists that never materialize into ownership unless they possess the necessary social stature. This gatekeeping ensures that art remains circumscribed within an echo chamber of cultural elites. For someone outside these circles, the most viable option might be attending an auction, where they can publicly bid against others, often paying much more than they might otherwise.

In essence, small contemporary art galleries in Manhattan epitomize a world where access isn’t just about having the money to buy art but about being the “right kind” of person with the right connections and cultural fluency. This exclusivity serves to maintain the art world’s mystique and ensures that its inner workings remain accessible only to a select few.

Many successful artists don’t profit from their work

The journey of an artwork after its sale can be as hidden as its origins are celebrated. Many pieces end up in private collections, never again displayed to the public – a reality that some find quite disheartening. Yet not all collectors are merely hoarding treasures; many are ethical patrons who actively support emerging artists and invest in their careers.

This split in collector behavior highlights the range of interactions within the art industry, from speculative to genuinely supportive. Delving deeper into this world, it becomes clear that art isn’t just about static paintings on a wall but also vibrant performance art. From witnessing a man in a Snow White costume delivering a cryptic performance to watching a hairless cat roam an avant-garde scene, the diversity of expression in modern art stretches and sometimes confounds our expectations.

Take the story of Julie Curtiss, a gifted young American artist. It sheds light on the economic challenges in the art market. Despite her talent, Curtiss has seen her works soar in value at auction without any financial benefit to herself. One of her paintings, for example, was sold for $106,000 at auction, after being sold for only $600 two years earlier.

While some galleries try to protect their artists with anti-flipping clauses, these often only cover the initial resale and not beyond. This leads to a significant imbalance where artists may struggle with everyday needs while others profit richly from their work. As Curtiss’s prices climbed, she also grappled with the anxiety of potentially damaging her career through too much commercial success, fearing that rapid gain might trigger a critical backlash.

The art industry’s discomfort with overt commercial success complicates an artist’s journey, as being too commercially successful can alienate the very people who once championed them. Surviving in this industry involves more than talent and creativity; it also demands a deep understanding of market dynamics and cultural expectations that define artistic success and failure. The art world demands a delicate balance from those who traverse its beautiful but challenging terrain.

Genuine art appreciation bypasses the snobbery and engages with the work itself

Exploring the art world often reveals a landscape as gated and exclusive as a country club. Yet, through personal journeys, many discover that feeling alienated from this world isn’t unique. Understanding the inner workings of the art world can empower individuals to engage with art on their own terms and find personal meaning, despite its seemingly closed nature.

A particularly enlightening aspect of this exploration is visiting artists in their studios. Observing their meticulous struggles with the perfect shade of blue or the physics of their materials can be transformative. It underscores a powerful message: everything needed to connect meaningfully with art is often right before our eyes, in the artist’s intent and technique.

If you love art but feel daunted by the exclusivity of the art world, there are practical ways to deepen your engagement and bypass the snobbery. One key tip is to avoid museum fatigue, which is like trying to consume everything at a buffet. Instead of attempting to see every piece in a gallery, find just one work that resonates and spend time with it. Whether it’s half an hour or longer, this focused engagement can lead to a much more profound experience than a superficial glance at numerous works.

Another effective approach is to challenge yourself to observe five specific details about a piece of art. These observations don’t need to be profound or complex but should focus on the sensory and emotional impacts of the work. This method encourages thoughtful consideration of the artist’s choices and can help viewers connect more deeply with the artwork.

Beyond traditional venues, experiencing art more authentically involves getting closer to where it’s made. Museums, while valuable, often represent a curated version of culture shaped by numerous decisions and biases. Visiting art in less conventional places like art schools or small local galleries can provide a fresh perspective and bring you closer to the raw, unfiltered essence of artistic expression.

Ultimately, being around art can expand and redefine your perceptions of beauty. It’s not just about appreciating what’s traditionally beautiful but recognizing moments that challenge your expectations and draw you in, sometimes uncomfortably so. Art serves as a gateway to discovering and embracing more of these moments, urging you to broaden your horizons and enrich your life through diverse and direct encounters with creativity. This approach not only demystifies art but also makes it a more inclusive and relatable part of your life, opening doors to new ways of seeing and understanding the world around you.

Conclusion

In the art world, connections, wealth, and taste gatekeep cultural engagement. The contemporary art scene is defined by extravagance intertwined with ethical dilemmas, deceit, and a disregard for artists’ financial well-being. Unspoken rules about appearance, speech, and behavior, serve as barriers to maintain exclusivity. Ultimately, the art world isn’t just about art but about people, power, and the codes that determine cultural access.

And remember, if you feel overwhelmed by the exclusivity of the art world, consider engaging more deeply with individual artworks rather than trying to appreciate everything at once. Spend focused time with a single piece or observe specific details to enhance your understanding and enjoyment. And why not explore art in more unconventional places like art schools or small galleries, to experience a more authentic and personal experience with fresh perspectives away from the often curated environment of museums?

About the author

Bianca Bosker is an award-winning journalist known for her immersive explorations of niche worlds. She’s previously authored the New York Times best seller Cork Dork, which delves into the intricacies of the wine industry and the fervor of those who inhabit it. Formerly the executive tech editor of the Huffington Post, her articles have also appeared in other publications such as Food & Wine, the Wall Street Journal, and the Guardian.