Impressionist Camera: Pictorial Photography in Europe, 1888-1918 [Hardcover]

Phillip Prodger (Editor), Patrick Daum (Editor), Francis Ribemont (Editor), Phillip Prodger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

From its earliest days, photography could not escape the pictorial traditions that had gone before it. This book, the first comprehensive study of Pictorialism in Europe, analyses the remarkable diversity of approaches taken by photographers across the continent whose practice was infused with contemporary debate about photography's relationship to art. Written by an international team of art and photography historians, Impressionist Camera examines the ways in which practitioners realized their pictorial vision, from the re-creation of Academic painting in photography to the use of soft focus to lend images an impressionistic quality. Also explored are the cross-currents with photography in America - where Pictorialism went on to flourish - including the seminal work of Alfred Stieglitz.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Patrick Daum is curator of graphic art collections at the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Rennes, France. Francis Ribemont is director of the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Rennes, France. Phillip Prodger is guest curator of the exhibition Impressionist Camera at the Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: Merrell Publishers (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858943310
• ISBN-13: 978-1858943312
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,377,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captures the creations and sentiments of the era., September 23, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Impressionist Camera: Pictorial Photography in Europe, 1888-1918 (Hardcover)

Pictorial photography flourished at the turn of the 20th century and crossed genres, styles and international borders as it produced celebrated artists and fostered artistic change. Here to celebrate these changes is Impressionist Camera: Pictorial Photography in Europe, 188-1918, a narrowed focus on European community photography approaches. Selections consider how photographers created unique works and visions, how they influenced on another, and how they contributed to the fusion and symbolism of pictorial photography as a genre. This book represents the first comprehensive country-by-country examination on the topic and draws together contributions by an international team of art and photography scholars and historians. Sepia and black and white photos throughout capture the creations and sentiments of the era.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pictorial Photography 1888-1918, January 9, 2008

By 

Preston S. Page "Preston Page" (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Impressionist Camera: Pictorial Photography in Europe, 1888-1918 (Hardcover)

I was lucky enough to see the once-in-a-lifetime exhibit for which this book is the catalog, and for that alone it is outstanding. The Pictorial movement produced some of the finest photographs by some of the greatest masters ever to pick up a camera. Impressionist Camera does a great job explaining the motiviations, tribulations and triumphs of the likes of Steichen, Kasebier and Coburn. This loving and detailed examination of the genre makes a great addition to the library of any fine art photography practitioner, collector or historian. A good companion work is Steichen's Legacy

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Compilation of Pictorial Work Ever, January 12, 2008

By 

Christina Z. Anderson (Bozeman, MT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Impressionist Camera: Pictorial Photography in Europe, 1888-1918 (Hardcover)

If you are looking for a book that actually SHOWS pictorial work in color, this is the one to buy. It has an incredible number of images of all the greats. It is 100% a "must have" for the photography shelf--and I share no connections to the author/editor/company.