In the fall of 2021, the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick collaborated with the Beaverbrook Art Gallery to present an array of documentary art found at the Archives. Since time and space were factors in the types of artistic records chosen, photographic records were not considered for display. I was curious about the decision and its connection to the longstanding debate about the classification of photography as an art form versus a kind of science.
The Library and Archives of Canada defines documentary art as “drawings, paintings, prints, medals, seals, heraldic devices, posters, reproductions or caricatures that document Canadian history, government and social development. Documentary art records also include objects considered as ephemera, such as trading cards, postcards, greeting cards, flyers, buttons and lapel pins. Visual documents may not only depict objects, scenes, historical events and people, but they may also reflect public opinion and attitudes, and, at times, they can become cultural symbols, as often seen in government promotional campaigns.” How does photojournalism fit into the definition of documentary art and what kinds of photographic art does the PANB have in their holdings?
Smith, N. M. (2023) Photographic Art in the Archives. Silhouettes, (55), 14-18. Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. ISSN 1201-8333.