At a glance
Before photography became accepted as art, photographers blurred, manipulated and reinvented reality to prove that a camera could be as expressive as a brush.
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Artlovers Tip
Look for what has been deliberately made less photographic — blur, grain, manipulation and imperfection are often the point.
Inside the exhibition
Description
The exhibition traces photography’s early struggle to be considered an artistic medium in its own right. Photographers manipulated negatives, printing processes, focus and surface to distance their images from mechanical reproduction and bring them closer to painting, drawing and printmaking. Tate broadens the usual story by following these experiments around the world from the 1880s well into the 20th century.
The participating photographers represent multiple generations and countries rather than a single school. Collectively, they helped establish the idea that photography could communicate mood, subjectivity and artistic intention, not simply record facts.
Light and Magic: The Birth of Art Photography
Light and Magic: The Birth of Art Photography
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