Black and white Quote by Martin Parr
“In the '70s, in Britain, if you were going to do serious photography, you were obliged to work in black-and-white. Color was the palette of commercial photography and snapshot photography.”
About This Quote
The statement reflects a historical constraint in British photography where artistic seriousness demanded monochrome, while color was relegated to commercial and casual use.
In simple terms: Historical color restriction in serious British photography
Monochrome as artistic legitimacy
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- photography courses
- museum curations
- artist interviews
Key Concepts
Practical Applications
- exhibition texts
- documentary scripts
Questions to Reflect On
- What impact did color restriction have on visual storytelling?
- How might this have shaped contemporary photographic values?