“historically distinct and at times at odds, photography and painting seek dialogue and comparison”

In Overpainting Repetto gallery investigates the relationship between photography and painting, looking at artists and works which have brought the mediums into close discourse, from the 19th century onwards.

Despite being historically distinct and at times at odds, photography and painting have sought dialogue and comparison. Several great impressionist painters like Manet, Degas and Monet collected photographs, and indeed their first exhibition – as is known – was hosted in french photographer Nadar’s studio. Thus the two mediums have always had an intimate yet strenuous relationship, both amicable and conflictual.

Starting from the mid-20th century, with the work of Peter Beard, Christo, Anselm Kiefer, Youssef Nabil, Shirin Neshat, Luigi Ontani, Arnulf Rainer, Gerhard Richter and Mario Schifano, the link between photography and painting became ever tighter. The richness of oil paints, the transparency of water colours, the scratches of pencils and the hieroglyphics of the pen stroke mixed and blended with photographs and other mechanical images.