White glove shot (ctd.)
October 28 2015
Picture: Sotheby's
A reader sends me the above example, freshly tweeted by Sotheby's. This is a vintage white glove shot, and an entirely justified use of the genre since Bacon's subject might himself be playing the part of art handler. If only he was wearing a white glove.
Meanwhile, in response to an earlier white glove story, an art handling reader writes in some indignation:
As an art handler from a reputable organisation I can tell you that we do indeed use the gloves pictured by the woman in the press photo and they aren't just for vets as your blogger comments. Perhaps if they looked into new research they would find out that these gloves are the way forward as they provide better grip and don't leave marks on the objects like so many others. This was actually tried and tested by a group of dedicated art handlers who knew what they were talking about.
Furthermore I am a female art handler and the only one in my division which quite frankly makes me glad to see a women shown holding a work rather than a bloke as they would so prefer. Yes, believe it or not women move art too these days. Blokes and bloggers alike need to get over it.
As for the shot angles and the position well that is artistic license by the press and anyone with any sense realises that intent when looking at any photo distribution by a gallery or museum so commenting on it is just pointless.
Yes yes, I know commenting on the white glove phenomenon is pointless, but I just can't help myself. AHN revels in being pointless. I also I can't help thinking that the reader above would prefer it if the women most often photographed in these shots were (a) in fact real art handlers, and not from the press office, and (b) actually doing some art handling, not just pretending too for the photgrapher's benefit.
