A common assumption among art historians is that the invention of photography in the mid-nineteenth century displaced the painted portrait...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
A common assumption among art historians is that the invention of photography in the mid-nineteenth century displaced the painted portrait in the public consciousness. The diminishing popularity of the portrait miniature, which coincided with the rise of photography, seems to support this claim. However, photography's impact on the portrait miniature may be overstated. Although records from art exhibitions in the Netherlands from 1820 to 1892 show a decrease in the number of both full-sized and miniature portraits submitted, this trend was established before the invention of photography.
Based on the text, what can be concluded about the diminishing popularity of the portrait miniature in the nineteenth century?
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'A common assumption among art historians is that the invention of photography in the mid-nineteenth century displaced the painted portrait in the public consciousness.' |
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| 'The diminishing popularity of the portrait miniature, which coincided with the rise of photography, seems to support this claim.' |
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| 'However, photography's impact on the portrait miniature may be overstated.' |
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| 'Although records from art exhibitions in the Netherlands from 1820 to 1892 show a decrease in the number of both full-sized and miniature portraits submitted, this trend was established before the invention of photography.' |
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Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: The assumption that photography caused the decline of portrait miniatures may be incorrect because the decline began before photography was invented.
Argument Flow: The passage starts with a common belief that photography displaced painted portraits, mentions evidence that seems to support this, but then challenges this assumption by revealing that the decline actually started before photography existed.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? What conclusion we can draw about why portrait miniatures became less popular in the 19th century
What type of answer do we need? A logical conclusion based on the evidence presented in the passage
Any limiting keywords? None specified
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The key insight is that portrait miniatures were declining before photography was even invented
- This means photography couldn't have been the original cause
- The right answer should acknowledge that other factors besides photography were likely responsible for the decline
- This directly matches our passage analysis - if the decline started before photography, then other factors must be more responsible
- Claims portrait miniatures were 'widely regarded as having more artistic merit' than photographs
- The passage never discusses artistic merit
- Suggests the popularity lasted longer than historians assumed
- But the passage shows the decline was happening earlier than expected
- Claims portrait artists 'shifted their creative focus to photography'
- The passage provides no information about what artists did