The Tangibility of Things

This chapter is devoted to the phenomenon of “American realism.” In two steps realism is initially introduced as a historical phenomenon, and then as an aesthetic category. As such it is understood as a collection of different figurative artistic movements in the United States. This angle helps to identify concepts of imaging typical to the United States, considering that the basic computer graphics algorithms were mainly developed there. The decision to deal with “realist” painterly traditions in the United States is justified by the fact that a specific concept of “realism” can be identified as a major point of reference for the developers of computer graphics algorithms. The engineers and the painters shared the commonality of producing images that were not only intellectually crafted and technically precise but also portrayed an atmosphere or a “feeling.” Painters often used cameras as a reference in producing such images. Consequently, replacing the camera as a supporting tool for these pictorial goals, and instead using a device such as a computer to create these kinds of images that blend intellect and feeling, is therefore almost a logical next step in the development.