Henri Cartier-Bresson, Place de l’Europe, Paris, 1932, Gelatin silver print
Course Description:
In our current digital age, the art of posing for a photograph, taking a photograph, saving a photograph, and printing a photograph is a relatively simple process. But what are the origins of photography and how has it developed over time? This is a survey course, covering the history of photography. Coursework presents leading photographers in a context of cultural, art historical, social, and political trends alongside the history of photography from its earliest beginnings through the present. We will read about and discuss technological innovations in the medium and philosophical shifts that led to photography’s classification as an art form, which in turn have made photographs attractive commodities to collectors and museums. Students will gain greater proficiency in the art historical field by studying photographs and photographers; learning from primary source documents; reading recent scholarly writings; and analyzing, discussing, and writing about photographs and texts on the history of photography.