HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHYSECTION 3

Artistic Movements

1860-1880

ARTISTIC PHOTOGRAPHY

• Some artists believed photo corrupted artistic process– Images “too real”– No room for imagination

• Major effort to legitimize photo as art

• PHOTO can IMITATE ART

• Themes-very melodramatic, dreamlike

• Reflected other Victorian era art forms

ARTISTIC TECHNIQUES

• Very staged, and planned compositions

• Combined negatives to achieve desired results

• Manipulated the printing in dark room

• Used models, sets, and dramatic lighting to set an artistic mood

Oscar Rejlander

• Inspired a movement of artists to follow his artistic vision for photo

• -”we can make photography the next great art form”

• Criticized by other photographers for using manipulation

• Started with portraits-later more detailed and elaborate compositions

Boy and Girl in Colonial Costume-1860, albumen print

Oscar Rejlander

Putto as allegory for Painting-1886

Portrait of Two Girls-1860

Oscar Rejlander

• “The Bachelors Dream”• 1860• Albumen Print

Oscar Rejlander

• “Hard Times• Spiritual Photograph• Combination Albumen Print (two negatives)• 1860

Oscar Rejlander

• “The Two Ways of Life”• Theme- Virtue vs. Vice• 1858- Gelatin Silver Print• 30 separate negatives used• Elaborate staging and costumed models used

Rejlander

• Becomes tired of making artistic photos

• Writes letter to Henry Peach Robinson:

-”I am tired of photography for the public, particularly composite photos, for there can be no gain and there is no honor but cavil and misrepresentation…”

Henry Peach Robinson

• “Fading Away”• 1858- Albumen Print (5 negatives used)• Tried to make statement about pain and sorrow• Public reaction negative-thought it was real representation, was

viewed literally

Henry Peach Robinson

• Dedicated to Artistic Photography (even after Rejlander drops out)

• Strange duality in his statements:– Beautiful photos can be

made,” by the mixture of the real and the artificial”

– “this perfect truth, this absolute rendering of light,shade, and form…beyond the reach of the painter and sculptor”

Henry Peach Robinson

• His Philosophy of Artistic Photography:– “Any dodge, trick, and

conjuration of any kind is open to the photographer’s use so that it belongs to his art, and is not false to nature…It is his imperative duty to avoid the mean, the bare and the ugly, and to aim to elevate his subject, to avoid awkward forms, and to correct the unpicturesque.”

When the Days work is done-1877 (above)

Holiday in the Wood- 1860 (below)

Julia Margaret Cameron

• First Famous Female Photographer

• Did dream-like portraits of people

• Especially fond of children

Julia Margaret Cameron

PICTORIALISM

• PHOTOGRAPHY IS ART• No staging or props needed, BUT• Manipulation of negatives and printing process is

acceptable• Art is a hands on process-physical manipulation

is accepted as a means to an end• Wanted to separate themselves from the public• Subject matter similar to Impressionists (nudes,

landscapes, children, nature)

Peter Emerson

• Photography is legitimate artform

• “Field workers at rest”– 1885, platinum print

Peter Emerson

“Gathering Water Lilies-1886, Platinum Print

Peter Emerson

• “Furze Cutting”-1885, Platinum Print

“the Haunt of the Pike”-1885

Peter Emerson“A winter’s sunrise”

1890

Other Pictorialist Work

Emile Puyo- the Gorgons Head-1898 Sealey- The Firefly, 1907

More Pictorialist Work

Edward Steichen- Self Portrait, 1901

Clarence White- Morning, 1908