I took a Drawing II class here once that focused primarily on drawing as process, and in it we wound up discussing what does or doesn't qualify as a "drawing" and or a "mark" fairly often — while the focus was slightly more specific than the concept of "the image" in general, I think a lot of the answers presented and thought processes leading to those answers are very much the same and apply to this broader concern.
When I personally think of the word "image" I tend to envision some kind of square or rectangular framed visible, 2D object. A photo, a painting, a print made on canvas, or a screen are all things that I would readily say present us with an image. However, the question of images goes far beyond that — what about a memory or an imagined scenario? What about scenes and images that exist outside of the tangible world?
I think that an image is anything that exists (either in the physical world or non-physical mental space) that can be perceived or understood visually. I think that a scene — take a livingroom for example — as seen in 1.) a photograph or painting, 2.) a memory, 3.) physically in person, or 4.) a dream all qualify as image. In that sense, I suppose the concept of an "image" is pretty wide open, save for the fact that I tend to think of it exclusively in terms of visuals — I would not, then, say that a song IS an image or that the feeling of wind on your skin IS an image in itself, although both of those experiences may conjure some kind of accompanying image in the form of either memory or imagination.
In that sense also, I would say that those who are hard of seeing still have full capacity to experience "images" in that the other senses combined with the abilities of one's mental space allow plenty of room for the conjuring of an image. Having eyesight isn't necessarily a required component for being able to detect and respond to images.
- Natalie
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