Process Photo History #001 — The Photo-Secession movement.

The Photo-Secession was an early 20th-century movement that promoted photography as a fine art in general and photographic pictorialism in particular.

Story Time: Let's take a stroll through the archives of photography with a look at the Photo-Secession, a movement from the early 20th century led by Alfred Stieglitz and F. Holland Day. Imagine a group of rebels who believed that the real magic of a photo wasn't just about capturing the scene but about the artist's crafty touch.

Picture Stieglitz facing off with the more traditional crowd at the National Arts Club, saying, "Nope, we're doing it differently." And there you have it – the birth of the Photo-Secession, a rebellion against the artistic norms of the time.

They were into Pictorialism, transforming photos into painting-like images with soft focus, creative filters, and darkroom magic. They even threw in some vibes from Greek and Roman art. Stieglitz was the leader, with folks like Edward Steichen and Gertrude Käsebier in the mix.

Fast forward to 1905, and Stieglitz opens the Little Galleries of the Photo-Secession – a small spot with a big influence. But, like all good things, it couldn't last forever. By 1910, some photographers were done with Stieglitz's way of doing things, and the Photo-Secession name faded away.

However, the impact lingered. In 1916, the Pictorial Photographers of America rose from the ashes, and Stieglitz? Well, he disbanded the whole thing in 1917. It was quite a ride, where photos weren't just images but strokes on the canvas of art history. 📸✨

Bonus image: This VERY cool illustrated advertisement for the Photo-Secession and the 291 related 291 Gallery, designed by Edward Steichen, published in Camera Work no. 13, 1906.