Zaskarbić spojrzenie – obrazy, które chcą nas zjednać

Abstract

The aim of the article is to rethink the way in which images convince us to adopt the perspective of another, which is the image itself. Starting from W.J.T. Mitchell’s theory on the desire and subjectivity of images, and Gottfried Boehm’s theory of the imagery, I look at a photographic and narrative album of Gerhard Richter and Alexander Kluge. This turns to itself for self-presentative and self-referential purposes. However, they do not aim to explore the essence of their medium, but “drag” the viewer into or out of the performance. I analyse situations in which we are forced to transfer our gaze to the materiality and objectivity of a picture, to its own existence. Such situations reinforce the effect of compassion, going far beyond literal meanings and content, which can be managed discursively.