PICTORIALISM

Time period : From 1880s-1920s

Key characteristics/ conventions : In 1839, photography was first created in order to objectively present subjects scientifically.Photography was not considered as art until pictorialism was presented. Photography was considered too easy to be considered a form of art.

Photographers from the pictorialism era wanted to make photographs look like paintings and drawings to be like the art world, which juxtaposes original purpose for photographs. Male photographers emphasised erotic aspects of the female subjects. Women were made to look weak and sensual.

Artists associated: Julia Margaret Cameron (1815-1879), Peter Henry Emerson (1856-1936), The Vienna Camera Club (Austria), The Brotherhood of the Linked Ring (London), Photo-Secession (New York)

Key works:

Methods/ techniques/ processes: makes photographs look like paintings, experimented with chemicals in the dark room, placed Vaseline on lens.

REALISM / STRAIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

Time period: Mid-19th century, first appearance was in 1826

Key characteristics/ conventions : Creating photographs which retaliate with pictorialism, and shows real life. Moving away from trying to make photographs look like paintings and focusing on detail, shapes and images. Realism captures real life society and brings up issues of society.

Realism was made with intent to impact and change the lives of the subject. This then influenced the movement of photo journalism and documentary photography among the genre.

Artists associated: Paul Strand, Alfred Stieglitz, Walker Evans, Social Reform Photography

Key works:

Methods/ techniques/ processes:

Using photography as its original purpose, to capture things in focused sand clearly.

Capturing society and the world.