Pictorialism

theartofphotography.tv
/ tedforbes
/ aop.podcast
/ tedforbes
Pictorialism is one of the first and likely most influential photography movements. Beginning in the mid 1880's and spanning to roughly 1920 or so, Pictorialists were pivotal in establishing photography as a legitimate art medium and gaining acceptance as artists.
Pictorialism isn't bound by style or subject. However pictorialists dealt with two primary methods for distinguishing their images from mere documentation.
First the subjects and compositions were designed to bring a sense of fantasy or visual cohesion separating themselves from the documentation of every day life. Even landscape images tend to favor a sense of drama and effect to make the pictures more dynamic. Photographers such as Alice Boughton and Anne Brigman combined the human figure against landscape to a high degree of innovation. These images are still cutting edge by today's standards.
Secondly, photographers were beginning to manipulate the chemical process itself much in the way that a painter would control their materials. Gum bichromate was very popular at the time and photographers started applying brush strokes and other manipulations of the process to achieve a painter-like quality to the photographs. Photographers such as Robert Demachy took this to an extreme - the work takes on a sketchily charcoal or graphite quality. Soft focus and dramatic lighting are also used to create a painterly quality to the work as well. This idea was likely influenced by styles such as impressionism which was contemporary at the time.

[@kll.switch]

I'm watching this video in 2022 and it's so great to see an informative photography related video that's not full of product placements or unnecessary content to stretch the video for higher ad-revenue.

[@killerbeast5067]

Real

[@MarkusBerkus]

watching this in my history of photography class in my local city college! I feel special that I already follow Ted, everyone was like "who is this guy? he's awesome"

[@theartofphotography]

Thanks Mark - so awesome to hear!!!

[@shaneuk666]

These history and photograph study videos are the best. Keep these up Ted! Thanks!

[@Acquavallo]

Such a great episode. You need to make a series of photographic history podcasts! I love that you're doing this! So great!

[@markharris5771]

I've far from followed your channel chronologically, which tends to make it more interesting. But what I get from being led in to your videos by the KZbin logic with links, is the massive output you've had and how high the quality has been all the way through.

[@rohanaperera1005]

You are, probably the only one who presents 'the Science' of Art of Photography. Thank you immensely for the volume of knowledge you impart in every video of this series.

[@TheCelluloseKid]

Just what I needed to get my life started again. Thank you Ted, for the spark.

[@lewisfilms]

Thank you for offering such superb quality programming here on youtube.

[@stepitup5409]

This is a graduate class in photography!!! I think the best historical criticism of photography on youtube

[@SouthernExposure]

Not sure why this 7 year old video showed up in my suggestions, but I'm glad it did! I'm always impressed by your depth of knowledge.

[@vnzkee]

Loving your show, so glad I found it. What took me so long? Cheers

[@valkrys68]

This channel covers a ton of photo related subjects. I come here first when I'm looking for a photo clue with an older camera, or interesting techniques to try with my modern gear.

[@chidoiguan]

I was a photo teacher and still am a photo lover, I enjoy your videos very much, thank you!

[@thethirdman225]

The Art of Photography Excellent stuff Ted. Liked the way you linked it all together.

[@JBRasor]

Such a great resource! Thanks Ted Forbes. Robert Demachy was a great find for me!

[@RR-bd4bm]

Great video, amazing pics! Many thanks.

[@theartofphotography]

Yeah I agree - his stuff is mind blowing - particularly for the time, but his later work is just as fantastic.

[@SrtaDonguridondon]

Thank you very much for your clear and smart explanation.

[@theartofphotography]

SrtaDonguridondon thanks!

[@jeanlouevil32]

I have some time and i'm just wathcing all your videos, they're great

[@ritunsaha6076]

Great work. I am a daily visitor of your channel. Please keep doing what you are doing.

[@jasonacuna6473]

this video is wonderful! Thank you!

[@douggottlieb]

Classic AoP. Great video Ted.

[@Oly1435]

Thank you, another great video!

[@rolfbecker3812]

Old but Gold!

[@Doud92]

Hi Ted, you would want to say "demashee" not -shay and "Chant sacré" means "sacred song" basically. Anyway great episode as always. If you are interested in the relations between Painting and Photography in the 19th century I suggest you find that book that just went out, "Painting and Photography" by Dominique de Font-Réaulx, I just got it and it's really interesting, sharp and pertinent. Good day to you.

[@tododigitalvzla]

Thanks.. a lot.. Greeting from Venezuela

[@Mobulus]

Someone told me once that painting and photography are one and the same. Their results are the same, or they can reach the same results. I say that these two expressions of art are twin sisters, so to speak. Actually, they complete each other for expressing quite the same message. There are those classical zen and chan buddhist paintings that differ from photography, or caligraphy (which is painting turned to writing, actually), but other than these there aren't any. These two, I think, complete each other when it comes to the methods used, the technical aspects of the works. Of course, in painting the artist adds something to the canvas, where in photography, the artist subtracts elements from the frame, from its canvas. This is how I see it. :)

[@trevor9934]

The two diverge in one respect. Painting is an additive art - the painter starts off with a blank canvas and can add whatever elements they choose where they want. Photographers generally start off with an existing scene (leaving out pure studio work), that has elements in it that will either support or compete with the subject. Consequently the photography has to try to eliminate or suppress the elements that do not support the main subject. To quote Dorothea Lange: "Photography, after all, is a conscious act of selection."

[@nidhishshivashankar4885]

Painting is also more 3 dimensional when you account for impasto and layering whereas photography is on a film

[@mela28xcom]

Hey Ted is that green screen? behind you? if it is GOOD WORK is really real

[@windrides]

Thank you

[@juanmawatheletgmail9105]

Thanks, very interesting.

[@TheHousePanther]

which city's skyline is that behind him?

[@tonyperez5360]

Good job

[@skolrelaterat4113]

Hello! First of all, I would like to thank you for the very interesting films about photography. Secondly, I have tried to find a picture that stuck in my memory when I saw it about 15 years ago, but which I do not know anything about. I'm taking a chance to getting some help here. Actually, I have been very fond of the genre of pictorialism for many years, but it was only recently that I realised that the image I'm looking for might belong to that genre. The picture represents a couple of boys standing in a lake or a stream. One holds a glass jar in his hands and they are likely to try to catch tadpoles or something like that. The image is in black and white, blurred and out of focus, but shimmering. If someone recognises the description and has any suggestion on what image it is and who may have taken it, I would be very grateful to get an answer.

[@joshuayacoby807]

It sounds like it might be Keith Carter's photo "fireflies". If that's correct you can thank Ted Forbes as he did a great episode on Keith's work and that image also stuck in my mind 😁

[@jacquijones6418]

I thoroughly enjoyed this and my pinterest boards are growing too

[@IvoStunga]

Woah, neat! Would love to explore this in context of URBEX and Horror

[@chiefpimp]

How the hell is this not the most popular photo channel on youtube? This guy is outstanding. After watching the HORRIBLE digitalrev videos, this is a breath of fresh air.

[@jerryrdz716]

Love THIS!

[@stardude3396]

So my question is, how can I replicate this "effect"?

[@victorwhitby4401]

Great vid

[@DarkAngelEU]

Thanks for making me an actually proud Belgian. Finally a photographer worth bringing up in a conversation :D

[@prakashgajjar7940]

Excellent

[@hajmanek]

Amazing job (Y)

[@lukasprochazkaprod]

only 5000 views? even I am ashemed I found this chanel just now

[@patrickrainey305]

Love you

[@infinitum8558]

Wouldn't a more concise definition of Pictorialism is, "photography that aims to look like Romantic paintings"?

[@ThePosiview]

Damn...@chiefpimp...thumbs...!!

[@areyoucereals]

So, I wonder. Would all staged photo shoots (fashion, product photography, etc.) be pictorialism, since there's manipulation of the subject matter?

[@ThePosiview]

@chiefpim

[@user-kcrpine]

Why on earth did you wrongly suggest soft focus is simply missed or out of focus? This shows a foundational misunderstanding of what soft focus truly is and meant to this genre in particular. Many of the pictoralist masters favored specific glass for very good reasons.

[@edstacey4209]

Robert Demachy CC or what ever makes a mess of his name. Photo Speed

[@nnn248nnn]

Interesting video, however, might I suggest you work on your audio? The static throughout the video was incredibly hard to listen to and would/is deter/detering me from further videos of yours.

[@MisterFatherSir310]

i dont hear it

[@saintwoe]

the nightmare artist......

[@KingGameReview]

It definitely has a ton to do with girly stuff / shopping. That's all anyone I know uses pintrerest for.

[@ThatCanonGuysReviews]

YAY! First View and like!