How Paul Strand Paved the Way For Photographic Modernism

Giulia Mutti | AnOther | 15th March 2016

The New York group that included Alfred Stieglitz, Georgia O’Keefe and Paul Strand wanted their art to be distinctly American. Strand’s response to this challenge was to develop a sharply realistic style – “straight photography”. This term referred less to factual accuracy than high contrast, sharp focus and an awareness of geometric shapes- not a bad summary of much of 20th century photography.