‘Joined together politically, for a common purpose, or by common feelings.’

Cubism

Cubism is an early 20th century art movement, particularly expressed in paintings and was the starting point for many abstract styles. Perspective was key, from starting with a single viewpoint to then experimenting with simple geometric shapes, interlocking planes and collage. Invented by Pablo Picasso and George Braque’s, they brought different views of a subject together which resulted in paintings to appear fragmented and abstract. This idea of breaking photos apart to creating different fragmented pieces, then re-joining them together was aimed to show different viewpoints which gives a sense of three-dimensional from. The different viewpoints shown through the fragmented yet abstract art creates a type of union. Each section is joined together in geometric forms, with little use of colour. This alters reality as your expressed with new emotions and feelings found within the new format of the image.

Inspirations & Mood-Board

Pablo Picasso: Focus on portraits, broken up image to create fragmented, new reality.

George Braques: Scenario or moments captured, distorted – we don’t know straight away what is being shown, makes you look closer showing you a different reality.

Jean Metzinger: Loose blocks of colour fitted together creating a loose effect. Similar effect to cubist style yet colours are arranged in an orderly way of a geometric pattern that aren’t loose strokes of colour.

‘Reducing everything to geometric outlines, to cubes’.

~^{_{Louis Vauxcelles commented on George Braque’s paintings.}}

Other Inspirations:

Cubists aim was to show you things for what they truly are , not what they look like. They did this by emphasising the flatness of the picture surface by breaking down pictures into geometric shapes resulting in this fragmented look. By placing things in multi dimensional forms alters your perspective, showing you things from different angles which ultimately reveals this inner-life of a subject as its different from what we are used to seeing. Exploring ‘form’ and ‘space’ further emphasises this concept of how things on a two-dimensional canvas were highlighted compared to the three-dimensional effect of the distorted image, which further creates a sense of reality as a perspective we are not used to is expressed.

‘Cubism is a revolutionary new approach to representing reality’

In response, by capturing people I know/ have a relation with in particular environments or scenarios/ moments, then capturing multiple diverse angles, which reveals different perspectives will reveal this new reality, shown through an abstract, direct approach. When capturing photographs; portraits, landscapes, people in environments or objects, instead of one singular snapshot, I would take lots from multiple angles (zooming in on areas to create depth) which will show you different perspectives of the subject. Further editing using Photoshop to collage/ fit the images together which will create this illusion of images as it isn’t a perfect or clear photograph, instead areas are fragmented and distorted in ways which alters you perspective on things and change your reality of what you are shown.

Initial Ideas:

• Landscape – Merging two images together, experimenting with contrasting colour or black and white.
• Final Photobook – Sections, broken up pages which lead up to the ‘final reality,’ This will create an interesting, engaging fragmented effect which will lead up to the main image, altering your perspective showing you new realities.
• Fragmented, join effect – experiment with different layouts – overlapping, merging, perfectly aligned – David Hockney

David Hockney: Distorted images pieced back together

I like how the simple names perfectly describe the scene and environment.

Expressionism

Expressionism is a modernist movement, or style of painting or poetry originating from Northern Europe in the beginning of the 20th century. The artist or writer seeks to express the inner world of emotion rather than external reality, creating a subjective perspective. Using loose strokes and expressive marks of colour fit together expressing a mix of emotions leading to evoking types of moods and ideas that the artist is feeling. The typical portraits and landscapes we see are transformed into an illusion of colour of dramatic expressions which imitate the artists inner feelings and emotions. This shows the artists own reality and how they percieve certain situations compared to how we look at them. Except their reality is expressed more clearly as their feelings are expressed through the expressive marks and layers of colour used. Compared to cubism different views are brought to the photograph as they are fragmented and distorted, then placed back together. This opens up our interpretation of the particular image as the artists reality is not obvious straight away, it is only evident when you look deeper and closer you see the full picture (reality).

We are straight away drawn to the colourful, exressive, loose marks of colour that are formed together creating a very picturesque, aesthetic image. This instantly lures you in, noticing texture which is a symbol of the artists feelings and mood which therefore evokes feelings and emotions within ourselves as viewers. For myself, the lines and curves of marks expressed by the individual strokes of colour, epxresses emotive feelings of being surprised and amused as new forms are constantly being revealed to us as we figure out the artists type of reality. Perhaps the the warmer tones of colour eg, yellow, orange, pink, red or pale colours signify happiness as they evoke positive emotions compared to the cooler tones of deep blue, navy, green and dark red. This also sets the type of scene the image is portraying whether it is a message or story and if it’s either positive or negative. Each feature is united, as they complement one another, expressing types of contrasting emotions expressed through the particular story of the image.

Photo shoot ideas:

• Landscape, – seascape (different times), villages including people.
• Portraits
• People together in an environment – people I know mixing with strangers.
• Unfiltered
• Unusual perspectives of people where they are unaware of camera – eg, conversation, getting ready to go out

Artists:

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner: Expressionistic style, defines materialistic values with conventional attitudes of people. Shows unfiltered and filtered ways of how people are united.

https://artsandculture.google.com/usergallery/BgLCGpjUio1MJQ

https://www.myartbroker.com/artist-david-hockney/collection-photo-collages

Union- the action of joining together or the fact of being joined together, especially in a political context.

Synonyms

-joining -merging -fusing -unity -combination

Opposites

-separation -parting -disunion -disassociation -conflict

This is the exam theme, it is fairly broad, however a main association for the word is something powerful. For my project I want to create a powerful, unique project, this till leaves my options open whether I focus on a person, a subject or a style I am not sure yet. I will create a mood board and mind map to start defining ideas before I then do further research into art, artists, photos, photographers and other useful research.

Mind Map

Having been given the theme of Union, after researching the term I created a mind map, one looking at different ideas, from photoshoots to subjects. This helped create a base for where I would start. Having this means I can then pick whichever things interest me and start to research them. I found I added colour and texture, this was from looking at photobooks I liked ones that had strong sensory elements, adding deeper feel to the flat photos.

Mood Board

Once I completed my mind map I had multiple ideas but one that stuck out was the farming industry in Jersey, the union between man and land. More so the more traditional farming in Jersey, creating a further union between old and new. It is an important topic not enough people understand the industry, many completely under estimating how much of a lifestyle over a job it is. Before I decide on my photoshoots, narrative etc I want to do some further research on photobooks, topic choice, other people similar projects. This will help influence where I take my project and how it will create the most impact.

Emma Hardy’s photography is known for taking a contemporary approach. she tends to try and create stories within her images using her children as the main subjects. Emma Hardy was raised by a family of actors so interest in a camera was bound to arise in her childhood. when she was young, taking photographs and making pictures was a strong interest she took apart in. She also realised that she was fascinated with appearance and how people organised and presented themselves to the world. twenty years later she focussed on her own family mostly of her children and was fascinated by the connection she felt with the images she created. She enjoys focussing on times of the day when the natural lighting is good to create an extra detail in her images. she said:

“I run towards beautiful light at any time of year, in any place in the world. It doesn’t always have to be sunlight; it can be a solemn cool light, a reflection, lamp light, dusty light filtering through a little window, green light under trees in a forest, firelight, snow light, moonlight even. It is some sort of painterly quality that pulls my attention, an emotional quality, something that jogs a memory deep inside me. I also believe I have an ability to ‘tune in’ to wherever I am, so that reflecting the nature of the people I meet, and capturing the tones of the local landscape or cityscape or internal “roomscape” becomes instinctive.”

She focusses on portraiture within her images but in environments the subject is exploring. her subjects a sometimes in unusual settings which creates a mix between reality and fantasy. She aims to bring across strong emotions in her images by getting her subject to express a certain emotion in the image of by the use of lighting (eg darker weather or time of day would create a different feel to a sunny day with bright light.

Hardy’s photograph series of her family also included their family struggles. Hardy had to sell her home, her marriage collapsed and her dad and dog had passed. Even though under the pressure of her life occurrences, Hardy still continued to produce photographs mostly of her family in the setting of nature, signifying the unpredictable nature of family life. This increased the power behind her project as it reflected deeply her life in that moment.

How does Emma Hardy link to the theme UNION?

Emma Hardy’s work relates to union in many different ways. One main way, which I am aiming to take inspiration from, is the use of exploring her family. The relationships between people would create a union between them. So each family is their own union, siblings are a union and partners are a union. Hardy takes images of her children and showing the relationships between them she captures happy moments in their lives liking playing together in fields or on family road trips. she also explores the union between the subject and their relation with the environment around them. She blends them with their surrounding where they seem like the fit in well with where they are. for example their expressions are matching to the golden hour in a field creating a warm and happy moment instead of them looking out of place and sad.

In this image, Hardy focuses on her three young children in the setting of a field. The closest girl subject start close to the image and take up most of the space and as you follow the line of girls you can see them getting smaller and less in view than the first girl. This could be signifying the age of the girls as it seems the girl in front if older than the others and Hardy could have done this to show how the oldest girl is drifting away quicker than the other too and she grows up. The girls take up the centre of the image showing that they are the main attraction to the photograph and the field just surrounds them. As mentioned before, Hardy’s intentions was to show the nature of family and in this image she has done that by using nature as the background/setting to the image showing the nature surrounding the family. The image doesn’t seem to have been taken with a tripod so it can be concluded that Hardy was taking snapshots while she walked behind the girls to capture the image in the moment rather than setting it up to be staged.

What does ‘Union’ mean?

Definition

Etymology

‘Union’ originates from the Latin word ‘unus’ which means ‘one’ and it refers to “the action of joining or uniting more than one thing together”.

Mindmap

Moodboard

Here is a mood board I created which shows some examples of the theme ‘Union’ presented in art and photography.

Art Movements/…isms

I decided to start off exploring the theme of ‘Union’ by looking at different art movements and isms.

What are …isms?

…Isms are Art Movements which are created to represent a particular style, technique or philosophy. I am referring to them as …isms as they typically end in “ism”. These art movements can be linked to the theme ‘Union’ as they are often created in response to different political and societal shifts. Additionally, artists will focus on specific art movements and form a connection with other artists.

Here are some which interested me most:

• Surrealism

Surrealism is when images are sought to challenge the norms of photography by presenting elements in bizarre ways through the use of techniques such as photo. montage, blur, colour manipulation, double exposure and perspective. These images often appear as dream-like.

• Cubism

Cubism is when images are broken down into various geometric shapes and fragments, often at different perspectives, to represent the subject as a whole.

• Expressionism

Expressionism is when images are subjective and have the use of distortion, exaggeration and intense colours to represent emotion and inner turmoil.

• Impressionism

Impressionist photography is when photographers create dream-like images which look as if they have been painted and are blurred so that the features have little detail.

Dadaism

Dadaism is a movement in art and literature based on deliberate irrationality and negation of traditional artistic values.

Surrealism

Surrealism is a 20th-century avant-garde movement in art and literature which sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example by the irrational juxtaposition of images.

Romanticism

1. a movement in the arts and literature that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual.
2. 2.the state or quality of being romantic.

Expressionism

Expressionism is a style of painting, music, or drama in which the artist or writer seeks to express the inner world of emotion rather than external reality.

Impressionism

Impressionism is a style or movement in painting originating in France in the 1860s, characterized by a concern with depicting the visual impression of the moment, especially in terms of the shifting effect of light and colour.

It is a literary or artistic style that seeks to capture a feeling or experience rather than to achieve accurate depiction.

Realism

Realism is the accurate, detailed, unembellished depiction of nature or of contemporary life. Realism rejects imaginative idealization in favour of a close observation of outward appearances.

In this project it will be exploring the theme of Union through consideration of unification, the passage of time, change and growth. i will do this by drawing inspiration from the surrealist movement, with the influences of Dora Maar, John Stezaker and Jerry Uelsmann using natural forms to intercept portraits as well comparing aged and young objects and individuals.

My intentions are to work towards a series of images where i will be experimenting with photomontage techniques that I will be presented as a set of prints and possibly also producing a photobook which will be more abstract in nature.

Mind Map

Mood Board

Humanism (Humanist Photography)

What is humanism?

Humanism is a philosophical and ethical stance which emphasizes the value, dignity and agency of human beings. It is based around connectivity. It prioritizes reason, critical thinking and overall evidence over simple superstition which overall promotes the idea that humans can solve problems and improve the world through rational thought and cooperation.

What are the different types of humanism?

Renaissance humanism is a movement from the 14th-17th centuries that focused on reviving classical learning and literature.

Secular humanism is a modern perspective that rejects religious beliefs and emphasizes science, ethics and human rights.

Religious humanism is a worldview that intergrades humanist principles with religious traditions, such as unitarian universalism, which is a liberal religious movement characterized by a “free and responsible search for truth and meaning”.

Union Link

Humanism in photography is about focusing on human connection,empathy and shared human experience. My project will explore emotional bonds through union. For example the unity of people through family,work or community.

Conclusion of humanism

At its core, humanism seeks to promote human welfare, progress, and fulfillment without relying on supernatural beliefs.

Artists to reference

Henri Cartier- Bresson

Who was he?

Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French artist and humanist photographer considered a master of candid photography, and an early user of 35mm film. He pioneered the genre of street photography, and viewed photography as capturing a decisive moment. Cartier-Bresson was one of the founding members of Magnum Photos in 1947.

The decisive moment

It refers to the precise instant when all the visual and emotional elements in a scene come together perfectly, creating a powerful and meaningful image. Cartier-Bresson described it as “the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms.” This means that a photographer must anticipate action, composition, and emotion to capture a fleeting, yet impactful, moment.

How does he refer to Humanism?

Henri Cartier-Bresson’s imagery is deeply connected to humanism, particularly humanist photography, which focuses on capturing the dignity, emotions, and everyday lives of people. His emphasis on the human condition, his photography often depicts ordinary people in moments of joy, struggle, contemplation or connection. His work highlights the universal aspects of human life, emphasizing these shared experiences of emotions throughout different cultures and societies.

His uses spontaneity and authenticity to reflect the humanist approach. The ideas of the decisive movement reflects his aim to capture life as it unfolds naturally, rather than staging or manipulating a scene, he tends to be very candid. This respects truth and individuality.

He shows a clear understanding of social awareness through his documentary work. Many of his images document history events and cultural movement, which offers insight into human struggles and triumphs. His work in war zones for example and daily life which reflects his humanist concern for social justice and awareness.

He proves to be non intrusive within his respectful approach. Unlike some photographers who might exploit their subjects his work shows a deep respect for human dignity. He personally believed in being an observer rather than an intruder, belding into the environment around him which enabled him to capture these authentic moments.

Henri travelled extensively whether it be across India and China or even the U.S, Europe and beyond, he managed to capture many diverse human experiences. His global outlook aligns with secular humanist ideals, which value cultural exchange, empathy and mainly a clear understanding across borders rather than post colonialism.

In conclusion his work is clearly a visual form of humans, it celebrated life, respects human dignity and captures the many universal emotions that connect people across cultures. His images can help remind us of the beauty,complexity and resilience of humanity.

Image analysis/focus

This is up there with some of his most famous decisive moments shots. This image capturers a an mid-air as he leaps over a puddle, being perfectly suspended in time. The photograph follows the rule of thirds, with the leaping man positioned slightly off-center, creating a clear dynamic tensions. This use of framing is subtle yet effective. The eye is naturally drawn to the man’s silhouette and the reflection in the water which mirrors his movement. The frozen movement allows for a sense of suspension and grace, showing beauty in what would normally be seen as an ordinary action. His reflection in the puddle adds symmetry and balance, which gives emphasis on the fleeting nature of the moment. This image is in black and white which enhanced the contrast between light and dark, the use of soft lighting and diffused shadows creates a surrealist atmosphere, feeling almost dreamlike. The fence and the urban elements in the background establish context and environment, creating a clear setting through the scene. With the use of the blurry industrial backdrop contrasting with the sharp silhouette it creates a very clear subject. The man’s leap may symbolize change, transition or even uncertainty as he is frozen in air before meeting the solid ground, Reality vs illusion, movement vs stillness.

How does this connect to humanism?

It represents the spontaneity and rhythm of life, showing an everyday person in an ordinary moment that becomes extraordinary through Cartier-Bresson’s lens. The wooden ladder in the water has been likely placed as a sort of makeshift bridge, which suggest improvisation and resilience, which are key themes central to humanism.

How does this connect to union?

It connects in many ways both visually and metaphorically. The image captures a perfect harmony between movement and stillness, therefore uniting the two realities into one frame. It can also be seen as a union of man and environment, where the man appears to be a part of the urban landscape blending in seamlessly reinforcing a humanistic connection to surroundings’. The action of leaping over water is universally relatable, creating an emotional connection with the viewer, speaking to shared human challenges. The elements of the image are arranged in a way that feels harmonious and interconnected, this acts as a visual bridge uniting the top and the bottom halves of the frame.

Surrealism

What is surrealism?

Surrealism is an artistic and literary movement that emerged in the 1920s, focusing on the irrational, dreamlike, and subconscious mind. It sought to break free from logic and realism, creating art that explored fantasy, dreams, and unexpected juxtapositions.

What are the different types of surrealism?

Dreamlike Imagery, inspired by Sigmund Freud’s theories of the unconscious, surrealist works often resemble hallucinations or dreams.

Unexpected Juxtapositions, artists combine unrelated objects or concepts in strange, thought-provoking ways.

Automatism, a method where artists and writers create spontaneously, without conscious thought, to tap into the subconscious.

Irrationality & Absurdity, surrealism challenges logic and reason, embracing the bizarre and nonsensical.

Symbolism & Metaphor, objects often hold hidden meanings, reflecting deep psychological themes.

Conclusion of surrealism

Surrealism aims to revolutionise human experience. It balances a rational vision of life with one that asserts the power of the unconscious and dreams. The movement’s artists find magic and strange beauty in the unexpected and the uncanny, the disregarded and the unconventional.

Artist Reference

Man Ray

Who is he?

Man Ray was an American visual artist who spent most of his career in Paris. He was a significant contributor to the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to each were informal. He produced major works in a variety of media but considered himself a painter above all.

What are the Dada and Surrealist movements?

Infamously called the “anti-art” art movement, Dadaism developed out of disgust and resentment from the bloodshed and horror of World War I, which began in 1914 and ended in 1918. Dadaism’s main purpose was to challenge the social norms of society, and purposefully make art that would shock, confuse, or outrage people.

Surrealism is an art and cultural movement that developed in Europe in the aftermath of World War I in which artists aimed to allow the unconscious mind to express itself, often resulting in the depiction of illogical or dreamlike scenes and ideas.

Conclusion of his work

Man Ray’s career is distinctive above all for the success he achieved in both the United States and Europe. First maturing in the center of American modernism in the 1910s, he made Paris his home in the 1920s and 1930s, and in the 1940s he crossed the Atlantic once again, spending periods in New York and Hollywood. His art spanned painting, sculpture, film, prints and poetry, and in his long career he worked in styles influenced by Cubism, Futurism, Dada and Surrealism. He also successfully navigated the worlds of commercial and fine art, and came to be a sought-after fashion photographer. He is perhaps most remembered for his photographs of the inter-war years, in particular the camera-less pictures he called ‘Rayographs’, but he always regarded himself first and foremost as a painter.

Image analysis/focus

The subject and composition can be analysed as a nude woman with the suggestive silhouette and a violin in the shade of her back. The woman’s form is sculptural, where her human body is merely reduced to a form of a canvas which depicted woman as idealized forms. The violins shape is drawn in chalk like lines, which echoes his own studies of the human body. Integrating the elements of classical art with a dream like surrealist twist. The violin is an impotent symbol in his work, it alludes to the idea of an artists secondary passion or hobby. Ingres was known to be am accomplished violinist in addition to his work as a painter/photographer. Man Ray cleverly uses the violin as both a literally and symbolic device within the photo, offering a playful suggestion that the female body itself could be used as a musical instrument as well as an artwork. Some key surrealist elements are portrayed, as surrealist were fascinated by the juxtaposition of seemingly unrelatable objects. By placing the violin the image disrupts but also draws attention to the sexualised nature of the female form. The use of the violin is a playful distortion of familiar artists motifs, adding an element of absurdity. The lighting is also key to enhancing the from of the by rendering the violin as something almost unattainable , as if it is a abstraction. This brings attention to the objectification of the female form, using the instrument as a metaphor for desire. The models pose is reminiscent of the classical depictions of the female nude, whilst the violin makes it odd, almost unsettling. This ties into the early 20th century critiques of traditional arts treatment of woman as objects for male pleasure. The high contrast lighting emphasised the figure of the model, creating sharper shadow’s that accentuate the body’s form while drawing the viewers eye to the very exaggerated shape of the violin. The use of light here is reminiscent of Man Ray’s ,artery of experimental photography. Notably his famous use of rayographs and other methods that have explored shadow, texture and form. When this image was created in 1924 the surrealist movement was at its peak, pushing boundaries in both visual art and photography. Man Ray who was a prominent figure in the movement, experimented with both fine art and fashion photography, creating works that blurred the lines between the real and the imagined much like the surrealists approach to art and physiology.

In summary, Le Violon d’Ingres is a masterful blend of playful surrealism, art historical reference, and subversive critique of femininity, objectification, and classical art. It invites the viewer to reflect on the tension between the human form and the arbitrary imposition of artistic and sexual symbols. Through its light, composition, and humour, the photograph remains one of the most significant works in the history of 20th-century photography.

How does this connect to surrealism?

Ingres, whose name appears in the title of Man Ray’s photograph, was a leading figure of Neoclassicism, an art movement that can be seen as a continuation of the humanist tradition, where the human body was viewed as an ideal form to be studied and revered. In Le Violon d’Ingres, the model’s body is positioned in a similar way to Ingres’ classical nudes, suggesting a connection to this idealized human form.

The photograph emphasizes the human body, particularly through its curves, light, and shadows. This focus on the body itself evokes a humanistic tradition that places the human figure at the centre of artistic contemplation. However, the surreal manipulation of the figure with the violin inserted onto the model’s back introduces a surrealist twist to this tradition, creating both a nod to humanism and a challenge to its conventions. This tension between the classical ideal and the distortion of that ideal reflects a key theme of the early 20th century, when humanism was being re-examined, especially in light of modernity, industrialization, and the upheavals of war.

Hoe does this connect to union?

The most direct way the photograph connects to the idea of union is through the fusion of the human body with artistic representation. The model’s nude body, traditionally the subject of visual art, is combined with the violin, which is an instrument often used to create music, an entirely different form of art. This union of two distinct forms of art—visual and musical—creates a deeper connection between the body and the creative expression. The body itself becomes a medium through which both visual art (the photographic representation) and music (symbolized by the violin) are explored.

Man Ray’s photograph brings together two distinct artistic worlds: classical and surrealist. Ingres, the painter referenced by the title, was a master of classical art and Neoclassicism, which emphasizes idealized, often sensual depictions of the human body. Man Ray’s photograph invokes this classical aesthetic with the smooth, curvaceous form of the nude woman. However, by replacing her back with a violin, he injects a surreal, playful element that distorts this classical vision, bringing a modern, irrational twist to an otherwise conventional subject. This union of the classical with the surrealist approach reflects the way modern artists of the 20th century were blending historical traditions with experimental, avant-garde methods.

• How to Incorporate:
  • Union Between Real and Imagined: Explore surreal or abstract depictions of unity. This could mean photographing individuals or objects that merge together in strange ways (e.g., using double exposure, juxtaposing dreamscapes with real scenes, or creating imaginary unions between people or elements in unexpected settings).

Pictorialism

What is Pictorialism?

Pictorialism was an artistic movement in photography that emerged in the late 19th century and flourished into the early 20th century. It was a reaction against the growing technical focus of photography, particularly with the rise of Kodak’s mass-market cameras, which made photography more accessible and mechanical. Pictorialism, in contrast, emphasized the idea that photography could be a fine art, comparable to painting or drawing.

What are the key elements?

Artistic Expression Over Technical Accuracy:

Pictorialists sought to move beyond the purely technical and documentary aspects of photography. They believed that photography should be an expression of artistic vision rather than just an accurate reproduction of reality. They often manipulated the image to create an emotional or aesthetic effect, mimicking the qualities of painting, such as soft focus, rich textures, and tonal effects.

Soft Focus and Painterly Effects:

One of the hallmarks of Pictorialist photography was the use of soft focus. Photographers would often intentionally blur the image or use techniques like gum bichromate printing or photogravure to create a texture that resembled a painting or etching. The result was a dreamlike, ethereal quality that emphasized mood over sharp detail. The soft-focus technique was meant to emphasize mood, atmosphere, and the emotional content of the scene rather than capturing the sharp, clear details associated with documentary photography.

Emphasis on Aesthetics:

Pictorialists were heavily concerned with the aesthetic value of their work, often seeking to create images that had emotional depth and conveyed a personal artistic statement. This approach was in direct opposition to the more straightforward, realistic style of photography promoted by photographers like George Eastman (founder of Kodak) and others who focused on the technical aspects of the medium. Pictorialists often chose to depict subjects in a more idealized or romanticized way, similar to how artists approached painting.

Influence of Impressionism and Symbolism:

The Pictorialist movement was heavily influenced by artistic movements like Impressionism and Symbolism, both of which sought to evoke moods, feelings, and subjective experiences. Pictorialist photographers often sought to express emotion through their work, using techniques that were meant to evoke a sense of mystery, romanticism, or nostalgia. The use of light and shadow in a way that might be seen in Impressionist paintings became a hallmark of Pictorialism.

Conclusion of pictorialism

Pictorialism was an important early photographic movement that elevated photography to the status of fine art. It focused on creating mood, atmosphere, and personal expression through techniques like soft focus and manipulation of the print process. While it eventually gave way to more realistic, documentary styles of photography, Pictorialism helped establish photography as a legitimate art form and influenced generations of photographers to explore the emotional and creative potential of the medium.

Artist Reference

Alfred Stieglitz

Who Is He?

Alfred Stieglitz (1864–1946) was a pioneering American photographer, art dealer, and promoter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of photography. His work helped elevate photography to the status of fine art, and his efforts were key in the development of modern photography in the early 20th century. Stieglitz is often credited with helping to establish photography as a legitimate art form. At the time, photography was often seen merely as a technical or commercial pursuit, not as a form of creative expression comparable to painting or sculpture. Stieglitz worked tirelessly to change that perception and advocate for the artistic potential of photography. Pictorialism: Initially, Stieglitz was a proponent of Pictorialism, a photographic movement that emphasized the emotional, aesthetic, and artistic qualities of images over technical precision. He used soft-focus techniques, grain, and other methods to make photographs resemble paintings or prints, creating mood and texture. This helped elevate the medium as an art form.

What is the 291 gallery?

In 1905, Stieglitz opened Gallery 291 in New York, which became a significant space for exhibiting modern art, including photography, painting, and sculpture. The gallery was a pioneering venue that showcased European modernist painters (like Picasso and Matisse) as well as American artists. Stieglitz also displayed his own photographic work there. The gallery became an influential centre for avant-garde art and played a critical role in the development of modern art in America.

Conclusion of his work

Alfred Stieglitz was a visionary who played a foundational role in elevating photography to the realm of fine art. Through his work as a photographer, his founding of the Photo-Secession movement, and his gallery exhibitions, he changed the way people viewed photography and modern art. His contributions helped shape the artistic landscape of the 20th century, and his legacy continues to influence photographers and artists today.

Image analysis/focus

Stieglitz took a series of cloud photographs, which he referred to as “Equivalents.” These were abstract, poetic images that he viewed as visual representations of emotion, akin to musical compositions. This body of work marked a significant shift in his artistic approach, aligning him more with modernist ideals of photography.

The primary subject of the “Equivalents” series is clouds—Stieglitz photographed clouds in a way that abstracted them from their typical, literal interpretation. The images are close-up, largely devoid of recognizable details like sky or landscape, and instead focus purely on the clouds’ forms, textures, and tonal qualities. Stieglitz’s goal was to capture the emotional equivalence of a visual experience—hence the title “Equivalents.” The clouds become metaphors, intended to convey emotion, mood, or states of mind rather than depict any physical object or scene. Compositionally, these photographs often have sweeping curves and jagged, cloud-like formations that evoke a sense of movement. The use of space is essential to the abstract nature of the work. The photographs often frame the clouds against an empty background, isolating them and focusing the viewer’s attention on the cloud forms and their tonal variations. Light plays a crucial role in the “Equivalents.” Stieglitz was a master at controlling light exposure, and in these images, light is used to emphasize the texture and mood of the clouds .The photographs exhibit a wide tonal range, from deep blacks to pure whites, creating dramatic contrasts. This play of light and dark adds an emotional depth to the images, enhancing their abstraction and making them feel more like musical compositions or paintings than traditional photographs. Stieglitz described the “Equivalents” series as a way to express emotion through abstraction, much like music expresses emotion through sound without any literal representation. The use of clouds as a subject can be seen as an attempt to achieve something akin to musical equivalence in the visual world. Just as a composer might create emotional resonance through the arrangement of musical notes and rhythms, Stieglitz arranged visual elements of light, form, and tone to create an emotional experience. This parallel between music and photography was an important part of Stieglitz’s thinking. He believed that just as a musician does not depict a literal “sound” but instead creates an emotional tone, so too could photography convey emotion through its forms.

How does this link to pictorialism?

Alfred Stieglitz’s “Equivalents” series represents a departure from his earlier work as a Pictorialist photographer, yet it also carries traces of the Pictorialist influence.In the “Equivalents” series, although Stieglitz had moved toward a more modernist approach, some aspects of Pictorialism are still present. For example, the emotional resonance of the work and the focus on mood or atmosphere over objective realism still echo Pictorialist ideals. Stieglitz’s focus on the clouds’ forms and textures, the soft quality of the light, and the romantic abstraction could be seen as a continuation of Pictorialism’s emphasis on expressive aesthetics rather than strict documentary or technical precision.

How does this link to union?

Stieglitz’s “Equivalents” series, though abstract and focused on natural forms, can be seen as thematically linked to the concept of union in several ways. This connection is not immediately obvious in the literal sense, but it becomes apparent when considering the unification of emotion, nature, and the individual’s experience through the photographs. In the “Equivalents,” Stieglitz sought to capture the emotional essence of clouds, not as literal representations but as symbols of inner emotional states. The union of nature and emotion in this series is a key feature. Stieglitz felt that by photographing natural phenomena like clouds, he could evoke the emotional experiences of the human spirit, thus creating a union between the external world and the inner life.

• How to Incorporate:
  • Symbolic Union: Create dream-like or idealized compositions that represent connections between nature and humanity, or between individuals in moments of tenderness, using soft focus and blurred edges to give a sense of unity.

Documentary Photography

What is documentary Photography?

Documentary photography is a genre of photography that aims to capture real-life events, environments, and individuals in a way that tells a story, conveys a message, or documents history. The key characteristic of documentary photography is that it focuses on truthful, objective representation rather than artistic manipulation. It seeks to provide an unembellished record of people, places, and situations, often with a social, political, or historical context.

What are some key concepts?

Realism and Authenticity

Documentary photography emphasizes a realistic and authentic representation of its subjects. Unlike staged or heavily edited photographs, documentary images aim to present the world as it is, often capturing moments that are fleeting or unplanned. The intention is to provide a truthful portrayal without manipulation or idealization. The goal is often to highlight real human conditions, social issues, or historical events, providing a raw, unfiltered glimpse into life.

Storytelling and Social Commentary

Documentary photography serves as a powerful tool for storytelling. It can be used to document significant events, everyday life, or aspects of society that are otherwise overlooked or ignored. Often, the photographs are meant to provoke thought, raise awareness, and sometimes even inspire social change by capturing moments that reveal injustices, inequalities, or the beauty of the human experience. For example, photojournalism is a form of documentary photography that focuses on documenting current events and news stories, aiming to inform the public about important issues.

Unposed and Candid

In documentary photography, the photographer often works in a candid manner, capturing subjects without them being aware or without posing. This approach helps to create a sense of naturalism, ensuring that the subjects are shown in their most authentic form. The focus is not on manipulating the subject’s appearance but rather on documenting their real-life context and the moment’s truth.

Artist Reference

Robert Frank

Who is he?

Robert Frank (1924–2019) was a Swiss-American photographer and filmmaker, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of documentary photography. He is best known for his ground-breaking work, particularly his book “The Americans” (1958), which is considered one of the most important photographic works of the 20th century.

What is the Americans?

“The Americans” is Robert Frank’s most famous work, a collection of photographs taken during his road trip across the United States in 1955–1956. The book includes 83 images that depict the diversity and complexities of American life, from the rich to the poor, from everyday scenes to the marginalized. His style in “The Americans” was raw and uncompromising, capturing unsentimental and sometimes uncomfortable realities of American society. He did not shy away from showing alienation, inequality, and discontent, which contrasted with the idealized representations of America often seen in the media at the time. The book was initially met with some criticism for its unorthodox style, but it later became a landmark in the history of photography. It challenged the traditional aesthetics of the time and is credited with transforming documentary photography into a medium for personal expression.

Robert Frank’s work is fundamentally tied to documentary photography, as he played a crucial role in reshaping the genre and pushing it beyond its traditional boundaries.

• How to Incorporate:
  • Documenting Union: Capture the collective identity of groups, whether they are families, labor unions, or cultural communities, showing how people come together in moments of shared purpose or adversity.

Futurism

Futurism was an art movement formed in Italy as a way to look past its dark history and instead towards the brighter future, the metaphorical movement through time. It unified artists with a common ideal and approach: ‘we will free Italy from her innumerable museums which cover her like countless cemeteries’ (quote from manifesto). The work is often dynamic and energetic for this exact reason: to inspire and differentiate itself from dull history threatening to overshadow the future. Alternatively it could also be seen as a representation of the rapid post war society especially in terms of technology. The movement proceeded to inspire similar movements such as Russian Avant Garde and Dadaism. This movement was pioneered by a few key artists such as:

Carlo Carrà 

His work shows movement. He captures the appearance of a moving background and seemingly still foreground. He achieved this by painting a detailed bike or horse with the appearance of multiple exposures and a background made of light colours. Additionally to show the movement of the bike lines spread outwards from the centre creating leading lines. Additionally, he only uses the primary colours: blue, red and yellow. He creates the illusion of detail by contrasting fine line work and blocks of basic colour, this creates an image with what appears like plentiful detail but only actually resembles the limited level of detail processed when seeing a snippet of a moving structure.  

Gino Severini

His work shows movement. This painting shows a dancer in the centre of the frame. The image is broken up into squares where each square is a different perspective. The very centre if the image appears still with each detail a similar perspective however moving outwards, each square looks more and more different to its neighbours. These sections show varyingly different perspectives which create the appearance of a spin such as her dress flaring, her hair showing up in different spots which contrasts with the lights which don’t move at all and appear still which makes movement seem clearer. 

Umberto Boccioni

His work made use of bold colours, perspective and movement. This image creates a fish eye effect where the buildings around the edge seem to bend into a circular shape. This effect creates the appearance of perspective and looking out a keyhole. The colours are bold and shows a celebration. 

Giacomo Balla

His work makes use of texture and shape. This image creates the appearance of depth with dark valleys between points and bright faces of points. The colours resemble a metal which creates a sense of danger combined with the sharp points.  

Vorticism

Around the same time, Vorticism was rising in the UK. The British equivalent often appeared more abstract and shape driven due to its heavier cubism influences. The movement gained its name due to its typical appearance of a spiral of movement where the centre is still and the outsides of the frames appear moving. The movement expressed energy and dynamism towards an industrial future which was soured by WW1 dissipating the movement. Both movements started from a still center and created dynamic movement moving outwards as the name would suggest. The most visible difference is usually the subject where futurism may show a bike or performer and vorticism shows abstract shapes.