Pictorialism

Some of you may be wondering what happened to that blog I mentioned on Tonalism. Well I'll be honest it was way to much work to re-write information, chase facts, names ect. So I bagged it.

One reason I've been able to keep this blog up (though it too requires a good bit of work) is because here I tend to write mostly about what comes from me and my experience.

I also like to post about great art movements and artists that I find to be cool once in a while. And that leads us to today's topic Pictorialism

The Big White Cloud by Edward Steichen 

Pictorialism was a photographic movement that ran along side Tonalism starting in the late 19th century. One of it's greatest proponents was Alfred Edward Stieglitz along with his magazine Camera Work. Most of the images I've posted here are from various issues of Camera Work

Dawn by Alice Boughton

What many of these photographers were attempting to do was paint with light. Many times the negatives and prints were highly manipulated to get a desired effect. 

Many Pictorialist works were created using photogravure. A process very like etching that can produce stunning one of a kind prints. 

Here's a link to great site with many awesome images dedicated to photogravure past and present.

Toucques Valley by Robert Demachy

I love the moody atmospheric quality of pictorialism and it has been a huge influence on my painting along with Tonalism. Unlike Tonalism though I hadn't even heard about Pictorialism until I started studying photography in earnest after I'd arrived in New Zealand.

What attracts me most to Pictorialism is the emotive quality and high art aesthetic  that most Pictorialist photos seem to have. Dramatic contrasts blended with blurred edges and enigmatic subjects to create many moving and memorable Pictorialist images.

Speaking of Photography, I am a keen, semi-advanced hobbyist. I post a lot of photos on Flicker. My Flickr page is here. Have a gander if you're inclined.

Cheers,