Photograph – New York Strand, Paul  (American, 1890-1976)

Paul Strand was the transitional figure in the shift from pictorialism to the ‘"straight” approach in creative American photography. In 1915 he abandoned soft-focus effects, at Stieglitz’s urging, and began making images with a directness and purity considered inherent in the photographic medium. Among the earliest were street portraits, including this one, which evidenced the strong social and humanistic consciousness that characterized Strand’s work throughout his long career. He wrote in the last issue of Camera Work (where this image appeared), Photography is only a new road from a different direction but moving toward the common goal, which is Life. [1]

Reproduced / Exhibited

Hambourg, Maria M, . Paul Strand: Circa 1916 ; [this Book Is Issued in Conjunction with the Exhibition "paul Strand Circa 1916" Held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, from March 10 Through May 31, 1998, and at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art from June 19 Through September 15, 1998]. New York: Abrams, 1998. plate 40.

References

[1] Peterson, Christian A. Camera Work: Process & Image : [exhibition, Minneapolis, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, August 31-November 3, 1985, Seattle, Seattle Art Museum, November 22, 1985-February 2, 1986]. Minneapolis: Minneapolis Institute of arts, 1985. p. 72.