Landscape in Photographs

This is a stunning look at the evolution of the landscape as photographic subject. Like painters and draftsmen before them, photographers turned to the landscape as a source of inspiration after the invention of the medium in 1839. Since then, changing artistic movements and technical advancements have provided opportunities for camera artists to approach the subject in diverse and imaginative ways. Until the 19th century, landscape was seen merely as a backdrop to a main subject, but with the rise of industrialization, natural settings became increasingly rare in urban life and, therefore, more valued and frequently represented. Plein air photographers recorded landscapes near and far, while Pictorialists added emotional resonance to the scenery with their painterly style. During the 20th century, the lenses of Edward Weston and Ansel Adams discovered lines, shades, and textures, and the landscape became a creation of rich tones and graphic compositions.