Pictorialism and Straight Photography

PICTORIALISM

Time period : 1880s-1920s

Key characteristics/ conventions :

New set of aesthetics to re-associate photography with art – Allegory style, dream world and spiritual ideas, with romantic ideals

Artists associated:

Abelardo Morell – modern contemporary. Uses old keyhole method to project outside scenes into rooms, no other interference so the light projects the image upside down. lengthy process

The Vienna Camera Club (Austria)

Photo-succession group – founded by Alfred Stieglitz

The brotherhood of the linked ring.

Key works:

Alfred Stieglitz – New York in 1890 promoted idea that photography was a medium as capable of artistic expression as painting or sculpture, created photo succession group (important group in solidifying the pictorialist movement) Alfred used compositional choices and use of natural elements like rain, snow, and steam to unify components of a scene into a visually pleasing pictorial whole.

Julia Michael Cameron – pre-Raphaelite style, fairy light, unfocused. Creates angelic scenes with woman, white clothing and soft finish to present innocence.

Emerson’s Naturalistic Photography – promoted photography as art rather than science, natural and aesthetic depictions of (famously) wheat workers workers


Methods/ techniques/ processes: Vaseline on lenses to have foggy smudged affect, and chemicals or scratches on developing negatives. Made the images look like paintings, with depth and sketchiness through human interaction, not just the mechanical use of the camera .

REALISM / STRAIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY

Time period: 1915


Key characteristics/ conventions : sharp shapes, realistic and clear view of reality, play with shadows. art made in initial framing not in post. Edward Western, Walker Evans.


Artists associated: paul strand creator. Edward Western, Walker Evans – wall street crash 1929 economic depression of workers.


Key works:

Methods/ techniques/ processes:

One thought on “Pictorialism and Straight Photography”

  1. A good start to art movements and isms, complete information and about Straight Photography and make a new post on Modernism and Postmodernism.

    In addition I need you to publish the following:

    Review & Reflect
    Statement of Intent
    Artists References

    Without the above we can’t help and support you developing your project especially if we are going into mini lockdown

    I am also in the process of assessing comparative essay on Claude Cahun and Shannon O’Donnell and it would be good if you could complete that too as it would boost your marks in Assessment Objective 1 which is where you are scoring the lowest

    Mr T

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