In 1942 the artist Long Chin-san depicted a riverside spring in a manner that was barely distinguishable from a centuries-old hanging-scroll watercolour: gingko leaves like dabs of black against a washed-out ground, with a minutely rendered water-carrier walking on terrain that is indistinct at the edges. It is in fact a photograph, and an example of how, from the 19th century into the modernist era, photographers experimented with composition and exposure to take snapshots that were self-consciously artistic. This approach became known as Pictorialism, and some 200 vintage prints by artists from around the world that exemplify this loose movement are on view at Tate Modern (14 October–21 February 2027). The works range from the late 19th century to the 1960s, during which time photography became recognised as a fine art. Highlights include meticulously staged and lit portraits by Adolph de Meyer, solarised work by the Sri Lankan photographer Lionel Wendt and modernist masterpieces by Edwards Steichen and Weston.
Find out more from the Tate’s website.
Preview below | View Apollo’s Art Diary
