The Pictorialism Movement in photography emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and was well-known for focusing on elevating photography to the level of fine art by mimicking the qualities of drawings and paintings.

Henry Peach Robinson, Fading Away Photograph. Pictorialism, Tim Layton Fine Art, 19th September 2024. https://timlaytonfineart.com/pictorialism/, Accessed 3rd September 2025.

Pictorialist photographers used techniques such as soft focus and manual manipulation to produce atmospheric or emotional effects rather than sharp realism. Their movements valued aesthetics and emotional expression over sharp, detailed realism, making photographers and audiences resemble impressionistic artworks rather than straightforward depictions of subjects.

Straight photography was characterized by sharp focus and minimal manipulation, emphasizing reality directly through the lens. This approach made straight photography’s qualities unique by relying on composition, light, and detail rather than artistic alteration.

Paul Strand, Bowls Photograph. Straight Photography, The Art Story, 30th October 2017. https://www.theartstory.org/movement/straight-photography/, Accessed 3rd September 2025.

Aaron Siskind and Edward Weston are two well-known photographers who were influenced by the Straight Photography Movement.

Weston‘s close-ups of shells, peppers, and landscapes highlight natural forms with a conceptual quality, demonstrating his remarkable composition and attention to detail.

Similarly, despite his initial abstract approach, Siskind used careful framing and keen focus to capture textures and patterns from commonplace objects. By accurately and artistically capturing reality and emphasizing the inherent beauty of their subjects, their images perfectly capture the ideals of the movement.

 

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