Pictorialism
Photography treated as fine art through soft focus, tonal manipulation, and painterly composition. The photograph as expressive object rather than document.
Historical Context
Dominant photographic movement from 1885-1920. Photographers like Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Steichen argued that photography could be as expressive as painting. Characterized by soft focus, gum bichromate printing, and deliberate aesthetic manipulation.
Defining Characteristics
- Soft, diffused focus
- Tonal richness over sharpness
- Painterly composition
- Atmospheric quality
- Deliberate aesthetic manipulation
Reference Artists
- Alfred Stieglitz
- Edward Steichen
- Gertrude Käsebier
- Clarence White
Works in this style
