The hand, the eye and the heart: The impact of photography on painting practice

In this dissertation I will discuss the impact of photography on painting practice. I want to examine the nature and extent of this impact. The influence of the photographic image on painting is an interesting and complex subject that is central to painting discourse and art discourse as a whole. Much has been written and said about this topic, with opinion largely divided on the extent of the impact and whether it has been positive or negative. In this discussion I will consider the views and opinions on both sides of the debate.