This book examines the link between geography and art in the context of photographs and paintings of the Normandy coast during the mid-19th century. Contributors argue that a unique convergence of forces--social, artistic, technological, and commercial--in Normandy dramatically transformed the course of photography and painting, as well as that of the region itself. Showcasing works by artists including Gustave Courbet, Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas, and Claude Monet and by photography pioneers such as Gustave Le Gray and Henri Le Secq, this generously illustrated volume shows how the new medium of photography affected 19th century ideas on image making and recording the passage of time, and how photography ultimately influenced the rise of Impressionism. This book will interest artists, photographers, and art historians, as well as general readers with an artistic bent. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)