But, is it Art?-Food for Thought

But, is it Art?
Throughout the centuries, the nude form has been used in art by the Great Masters of oil painting such as Michelangelo and sculptors such as Rodin. These works which have survived over time are accepted without question as Fine Art. It should be noted that the women depicted are generally not Playmate of the Month material; more often than not, they were slightly overweight matronly types. The men, from the ancient Greeks to the statues of Rodin were of athletic build but nothing extraordinary in the penis department. Perhaps, this choice of models made the viewers more comfortable since they could relate.
While drawing and painting dates all the way back to the cave dwellers, photography is a relatively new form of producing images. Can it be compared to sculpting, drawing and painting?
Early photographers such as Ansel Adams produced exquisite photographs using rudimentary equipment and slow, black and white films. As beautiful as these photos are, can they be considered to be true art or merely products of a good eye, masterful technique and infinite patience in waiting for just the right light? It could also be argued that the Great Masters simply had highly developed skills and technique.
Now, with the advent of the digital camera with automatic focus and exposure, it might be possible to train a chimpanzee to produce a useable image. Add a photo editing program and we can optimize reality or if unhappy with reality, create our own.
The question remains; when, if ever, can a photograph be considered Art?
What do you think?

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