Art 3: Imogen Cunningham, Leaf Pattern, Before 1929

How did Pictorialism influence the perception of photography as an art form?

photography could be considered fine art; it required skill comparable to other art forms

impact of the First World War on the evolution of photography

marked an exciting era in which Constructivism, Dada, and Surrealism embraced photography as central to their visual experimentation

What role did detractors play in the early history of photography?

argued that photography was only a mechanical recorder, rejecting the idea that it was a skilled fine art

evolution of artistic photography from the 1890s to the 1930s

Artistic photography evolved from Pictorialism in the 1890s, which established it as a fine art, to the 1910s–1930s, when Constructivism, Dada, and Surrealism integrated photography into their visual experimentation

How did the perception of photography change by the 1910s

photography was increasingly recognized as an art form, thanks to Pictorialism and growing acceptance from art critics

Imogen Cunningham's early education and its relevance to her photography career.

studied photography at the University of Washington, she majored in chemistry and wrote a thesis on ‘The Scientific Development of Photography’

Significance of ‘The Scientific Development of Photography

her chemical expertise proved valuable in early photographic processe

significance of Imogen Cunningham's essay written in 1913

argued that photography demanded good taste, a skilled mechanical hand, an artistic eye, and scientific knowledge, highlighting the importance of technical and chemical expertise

Who did Imogen Cunningham's learn from and how was he influenced

worked for ethnographic photographer Edward S. Curtis and was influenced by Pictorialist ideas circulating through magazines.

Pictorialist movement

aimed to evoke emotional states through photography, presenting dreamlike visions

Pictorialist movement  impact on Imogen Cunningham's work.

encouraged her to create emotional narratives in her photographs

What role did correspondence play in Imogen Cunningham's artistic development?

corresponded with Alvin Langdon Coburn, which connected her with other Pictorialists during her travels in Europe and the eastern U.S.

themes present in Imogen Cunningham's early photographs.

featured soft focus and dreamy narratives, with subjects in elaborate costumes to recreate scenes from 19th-century literature and poems

How did Imogen Cunningham's personal life intersect with her professional career?

married painter George Roy Partridge and moved to San Francisco in 1917; likely influenced her artistic environment and opportunities

location where Imogen Cunningham established her studio and its significance.

Seattle in 1910, where she took portrait commissions and exhibited her artistic photographs, beginning her professional career

influence of magazines like Stieglitz’s Camera Work on Imogen Cunningham.

circulated Pictorialist ideas globally, influencing Cunningham's artistic development and connecting her with other photographers

influence of German photographers on Imogen Cunningham's work

inspired by German photographers like Albert Renger-Patzsch and Franz Roh, who were part of the New Objectivity movement, which focused on objective recording without emotional manipulation.

concept of New Objectivity in photography

movement that emerged in Germany, emphasizing a return to objective recording in photography, avoiding the emotional and dramatic styles of German Expressionism

How did Imogen Cunningham's photography align with the principles of New Objectivity?

characterized by honesty and a clean presentation of subjects, fitting the New Objectivity's goal of objective recording without manipulation

significance of the exhibition 'Film und Foto' for Imogen Cunningham?

In 1929, Cunningham’s Leaf Pattern and nine other works were included in the Stuttgart Film und Foto exhibition, signaling major recognition within the New Objectivity movement.

Define the term 'f-stop' in photography.

camera setting that controls the lens opening, regulating light and affecting sharpness and depth of field.

role of Group f/64 in the photography community?

Formed in 1932, is a California photographers’ collective known for sharp, focused images and New Objectivity principles

notable members of Group f/64

Imogen Cunningham, Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, Alma Lavenson, Consuelo Kanaga, and Willard Van Dyck

visual style of photographers in Group f/64

crisp focus, tight cropping, dramatic lighting, and extreme contrasts between deep blacks and bright whites

What was the impact of magazines like Das Deutsche Lichtbild on Cunningham's work?

exposed her to the works of Renger-Patzsch, influencing her approach to botanical photography

approach Van Dyck advocated for in modern photography

believed it should be straight, sharp, clean, and photographic, emphasizing the medium's machine-made quality and ability to capture incredible detail without arbitrary additions from the artist

significance of the work 'Leaf Pattern' by Cunningham

illustrates photography’s careful manipulation, where the artist selects and arranges foliage, using light and shadow to create a composition that both reveals and decontextualizes the subject

How did the f/64 group influence modern photography?

by promoting sharp focus and clarity, rejecting Pictorialism’s soft focus and manipulation, and advocating direct representation of subjects

relationship between Cunningham and the f/64 group?

briefly joined them, exhibiting with them before turning to portrait photography and magazine work.

How did Van Dyck and Weston view manipulation in photography?

as something to be avoided, advocating for a style that allowed for a pure exploration of visual form without the artist's arbitrary interventions.

impact of lighting and shadows in Cunningham's photography?

carefully considered to create contrast and enhance the visual impact of the subject, contributing to the overall composition

How did the composition of 'Leaf Pattern' reflect careful consideration by the artist?

shows careful selection, arrangement, lighting, and cropping to achieve a specific visual impact.