Long Lake, WA 10 (work of art)
Artwork Info
Key Ideas about this Work of Art
- This is a photograph of Long Lake in Washington State. The photograph has been soaked in water from the lake, which has caused it to break down and change colors.
- Matthew Brandt is an experimental photographer. He physically incorporates his subjects into his photos of them. For his Lakes and Reservoirs series, Brandt soaked his photographic prints of lakes in the water from those specific lakes. The chemicals in the lake water changed the color and tone of the photographs.
- Brandt’s lake photographs bring attention to water quality issues and other environmental concerns.
Learn More
Brandt’s photograph calls as much attention to his creative process as to the image itself. The artist shoots postcard-perfect lake views and then soaks the photographic prints in water from the specific lake depicted. The process permanently alters the image, with changes in tone and color determined by the chemical makeup of the lake water. Seeing the effects of the water on the print suggests an environmental hazard—a lake that appears pristine might be hiding pollution (both natural and chemical) beneath the surface.
Brandt says he is influenced by 19th-century Hudson River artists, who often painted wide views of landscapes, or panoramas. He updates that tradition in this abstract, jewel-like work that looks more like a painting than a photograph.
Additional Resources
Resources for Teachers
- Read an interview with Matthew Brandt and view more of his work.
- View more photos from Brandt’s Lakes and Reservoirs series.
- Read a short article about the artist’s work.
Resources for Students
- Watch a video of Matthew Brandt talking about his work and this photograph.
- View an online gallery of images from Brandt’s Lakes and Reservoirs series.
- View a picture and map of Long Lake.
Images
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Long Lake, WA 10