Monday, June 11, 2007

Random Thoughts

 

 
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The first photo is of a clump of some kind of fungi found in my chook yard- alas all my chickens have gone- another fox attack whilst I was away. The second photos is of some leaves I found and rearranged.

I have been doing some research on printmaking- I want to get back to some more printmaking in the next couple of weeks.
Often the issue of copyright and copying comes up, however one of the first suits on this issue was brought in the renaissance by Albert Durer against Marcantonio- an engraver who had allegedly copied a series of Durer's engravings ( according to Vasari). Marcantonio also worked with Raphael making engravings from Raphael's work. It appears this may have been a true collaboration, in that Marcantonio didn't so much copy the paintings as work from Raphael's prepatory drawings thereby creating a new work. Rapheal seems to have been actively involved in the process- it was done in order for the work to be "publicised" more widely.

However I was bemused by Durer's claim for copyright for his work- so much more eloquent than the copyright symbol....

Hold! You crafty ones, strangers to work, and pilferers of other men's brains. Think not rashly to lay your thievish hands upon my works. Beware! Know you not that I have a grant from the most glorious Emperor Maximillian, that not one throughout the imperial dominion shall be allowed to print or sell fictitious imitations of these engravings? Listen! And bear in mind that if you do so, through spite or through covetousness, not only will your goods be confiscated, but your bodies also placed in mortal danger.

I found this quote on William Patry's Blog - dealing with issues of copyright.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great quote! Maybe people nowadays would do less stealing if they knew doing so would place their bodies in mortal danger.

Joyce said...

Love the quote. Change men to quilters and Emperor Maximillian to something else and it would work today.

Liz Plummer said...

Brilliant quote - so much more imaginative than the usual terse statement....

Anonymous said...

Actually the copying thing is very strange for artists. Don't you think it is a sign of insecurity and weakness wanting to copy someone else? Isn't art about your own path of discovery, with all its weaknesses, 'horrible' truths and confrontations? Everyone is unique and has a voice of his own. Art isn't a competition you know. There is not a 'best', compared with others, only with yourself. The problem might be that it is very hard to find your own voice and path, and what others do often looks so beautiful and enchanting. But there is no use in using someone else's voice. Just enjoy it and struggle with your own journey. In the end much more satisfactory.