History of Photography — Module 03: Art vs. Commerce and the Rise of High Art Photography

In the mid-to-late nineteenth century, the rapid commercialization and technological advancement of photography sparked intense debates about its societal and artistic value. As mass-produced forms like the stereograph and the carte-de-visite flooded the market, early photographic societies attempted to defend public taste against cheap, inferior products. This tension fueled a critical division between mechanical reproduction and fine art. While some critics dismissed the camera as a mere recording instrument, others championed "High Art photography" to elevate the medium, instructing and ennobling viewers through imaginative, morally uplifting, and painterly techniques.

The Commercialization and Mass Production of Photography

  • The Stereograph: Induced a "dreamlike exaltation" of 3D viewing, championed by Oliver Wendell Holmes as an educational tool for the masses.

  • The Carte-de-Visite: Perfected by André Adolphe Eugène Disdéri in 1854, these cheap, small portraits created a worldwide collecting craze.

  • Art Reproduction: Businesses like Adolphe Braun's utilized photography to democratize art and educate the public.

The Rise of Photographic Publications and Societies

  • Clubs and Societies: Organizations like the Photographic Society of London and the British Photographic Exchange Club formed to promote the medium, trade information, and defend against declining public taste.

  • Periodicals: Journals such as La Lumière and Anthony’s Photographic Journal disseminated technical news.

  • Mass Media: Publications like Harper's Weekly and Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper utilized photographically derived engravings to bring visual accounts of current events to millions.

The “Mechanical vs Art” Debate

  • The Purist Critique: Figures like Charles Baudelaire and Eugène Delacroix argued that photography was merely a mechanical recording instrument that produced "soul-deadening" pictures.

  • Categorizing Photography: C. Jabez Hughes divided photography into mechanical, art, and High Art categories.

  • High Art Photography: Practitioners aimed to "instruct, purify, and ennoble" viewers by emulating the subjects and moral themes of painting. Key figures included Oscar Rejlander (known for The Two Ways of Life), William Lake Price, and Henry Peach Robinson.


Key Pioneers and Women in Photography

  • Artist-Photographers: Innovators like Nadar captured heroic bohemian portraits and took the first aerial photos from his balloon, Le Géant.

  • Women Amateurs and Professionals: Photography lacked the traditional sexual hostility of other arts, allowing female participation.

  • Julia Margaret Cameron created deeply psychological, slightly blurred portraits modeled after Pre-Raphaelite paintings.

  • Lady Augusta Mostyn established the first gallery specifically for women's artwork.

That distinction between mechanical reproduction and intentional image-making is still the dividing line in commercial fashion photography. scottparkerphoto.com/fashion.

Module 04:
War, Imperialism, and Photography as a Social Force