Four Photographs That Changed Art History

This lecture series delves into the powerful role
photography has played in shaping art history,
taking a close look at transformative images that
helped redefine art, culture and technology. Each
session focuses on a single iconic photograph,
tracing how it impacted our perception of reality and
its representation in the art world. These images
represent more than just technical advancements—
they mark cultural milestones that forever altered the
trajectory of visual art.

July 8: Alfred Stieglitz, The Steerage, 1907

Alfred Stieglitz’s The Steerage marks the transition
from Pictorialism to Straight Photography. This
groundbreaking photograph captures a moment
of modernist realism, signaling a shift in how
photographers began to approach art. We will also
explore the influence of early pioneers who set the
stage for photography as an art form.

July 22: Herbert Bayer, Lonely Metropolitan, 1932

We will dive into the world of Surrealism and its
profound impact on photography and explore how
photographers used the medium to push boundaries
and explore the subconscious. This era marked a
new creative approach to challenging identity, reality,
and space, opening new doors for photographic
expression.

August 5: Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother, 1936

This documentary photograph became synonymous
with the Great Depression. We will see how the
medium was used not just to document, but to evoke
empathy and drive social change, altering the way
people engaged with documentary images.

August 19: Andreas Gursky, 99 Cent, 1999

Digital technology revolutionized photography in the
late 20th century with this photograph. We will see
how digital manipulation, large-scale prints, and new
techniques like photo montage have redefined the
boundaries of photography. We will look at how the
work of other artists continues to push the envelope
of what photography can represent in the digital age.