Ourselves more truly and more strange: the shared point of view in first-person painting

This thesis, Ourselves More Truly and More Strange: The Shared Point of View inFirst-Person Painting, first explores the concept of first-person point of view as aunderutilized and rarely discussed alternative to the constructed space of linearperspective and surveys the rare instances of its use be...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Morrison Higbee, Maxon
Format: doctoral thesis
Publication Date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repository:Docta Complutense
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/131053
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/131053
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:75(043.2)
Painting
Shared Point of View
First-person point of view
Pintura
Punto de vista compartido
Primera persona
Pintura (Bellas Artes)
6203.07 Pintura
Description
Summary:This thesis, Ourselves More Truly and More Strange: The Shared Point of View inFirst-Person Painting, first explores the concept of first-person point of view as aunderutilized and rarely discussed alternative to the constructed space of linearperspective and surveys the rare instances of its use before the 20th century. It goeson to examine the paragone of painting with literature, where point of view, as anaspect of narrative voice, can create empathy (or apathy, or disdain) between thereader and the narrator. By asking, “Who is the narrator of a painting?” this study aimsto create a bridge between viewer and artwork, enhancing understanding andemotional resonance. Drawing on narratology (Genette, Barthes, Bal) and criticaltheories of perspective, dualism and the gaze (Sartre, De Beauvoir, Mach), the thesisexamines how the relationship between subject and object differs from that ofnarrator and narratee. Through a phenomenological approach, it explores theinterplay between artist, artwork, and viewer, seeking to redefine point of view inpainting as a shared experience that deepens engagement and promotes empathy.