Pictorialism In Photography

——————————————

There are Two Definitions for Pictorialism:

Pictorialism is Either the name given to an international movement that dominated photography during the later 19th and early 20th centuries.

Or it refers to a style in which the photographer has somehow manipulated what would otherwise be a straightforward photograph as a means of “creating” an image rather than simply recording it.

It usually appears to be lack of sharp focus; range in different colors; manipulated on surface…

—————————————————————————————————————————————————–

One way that Pictorial photographers used to project their emotion is to emphasize on the atmospheric elements.

• Alfred Stieglitz believes “Atmosphere is the medium through which we see all things”, In his 50 years career, He always tried to make photography an accepted art from.

Spring Showers                             The Terminal                                     Venetian Canal
by Alfred Stieglitz, 1902          by Alfred Stieglitz, 1893                         by Alfred Stieglitz, 1894

Pictorial photographers conveyed a sense of mystery in their photograph, left opportunities for exercise of Imagination.

• Edward J. Steichen was the most frequently shown photographer in Alfred Stieglitz’ magazine Camera Work. He disliked the chalky aspect in the daylight, could photograph by the light of the moon.

The Pond – Moonrise                       The Silhouette 4 A.M.        Towards the Light, Midnight
Edward J. Steichen ,  1904       Edward J. Steichen,  1908        Edward J. Steichen 1908

Pictorial photographers used a variety of chemical processes to manipulated prints. The most commonly used  processes are Platinum print and Gum bichromate. Photographs appears to be printed in one or more colors other than black and white, from warm brown to deep blue.

The Rose                           Flatiron Building                                 The Ring Toss

Eva Watson-Schütze, 1905       Edward Steichen,  1904                 Clarence H. White, 1899

Instead of showing reality with out artistic interpretation, pictorialist promoted photographs as a form of Art.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictorialism

https://www.metmuseum.org

https://nmwa.org/explore/artist-profiles/eva-watson-schutze