American Modernism Research Paper

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Recommended: Critical analysis on modernism

Emily Galvin
Photo history
Essay
November 4, 2015

There is a closely knitted relationship between rise of American modernism and photography classified as fine art. These two movements were conceived around the same time, and began to be introduced and intertwined within each other, into the web of ‘what is art’. While there was the rapid quest to push American Modernism throughout New York city, Alfred Stieglitz’s had a vision of pushing photography as a medium of expression. This vision began in 1890 with his ruthless determination and drive to prove that it could be utilized as an artistic expression, and displayed as equally as fine art just sculpture and painting were. The innovative ideas of modern art took time and extreme effort to …show more content…

New York as a City, was brewing, city life was evolving, construction was happening around every corner. Along side the rapidly changing city, the art world was shifting as well, there were new concepts and ideas beginning to unravel, American Modernism was in the air, and slowly being introduced into various galleries. At the time, Steigliz was unaware of these changes, his focused was geared purely his cause to guide photography closer towards the arts. The light of his passion was not easily or quickly put out, he was elected vice presidency of Camera Notes, a Society of Armature Photographers in New York city. Steiglitz became a magnet in attracting other photographers around him. He began to surround himself, and enlighten people of his vision for the future of photography. “Before the people at large, and for that matter, the artist themselves, understand what photography really means, as I understand that term, it is essential for them to be taught the real meaning of art.” –Alfred Steiglitz. He knew that the vision he had could become a reality, he was ruthlessly determined to create an atmosphere in which photography was respected and regarded as a Fine Art medium. His goal was not to compare or replace photography with any other art medium, rather it was to create a whole new basis for the means of a photograph as a form of artistic expression. Luckily for Steigliz and his vision, the introduction of American Modernism was evolving at a same

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