American Photography 1843 to 1993 from the Museum of Modern Art, New York

US: The Museum of Modern Art, 1995. Paperback. Very Good. A copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting.The spine remains undamaged. American photography from the turn of the century through the mid-1960s offers one of the richest and most coherent traditions in the history of the medium. This book explores that tradition in depth through superb reproductions of 183 photographs from the outstanding collection of The Museum of Modern Art. Toward the end of the nineteenth century photographs became radically easier to make and to reproduce. The result was a vast new range of audiences and applications for photography. From untutored snap-shooter to specialized professional, the swelling ranks of photographers produced a sprawling diversity of new pictures, which recorded and helped to create modern America. At the same time, there arose an elite movement that withdrew from the undisciplined bustle of the modern world and claimed for photography a position among the fine arts. The first part of the introductory essay concisely outlines the evolution and interplay of photography's high-art and vernacular traditions. The second part traces the growth of the pioneering photography program at The Museum of Modern Art in which Ansel Adams, Edward Steichen, and other leading American photographers played decisive roles. Luc Sante's essay, "A Nation of Pictures," places photography at the center of a lively reconsideration of modern American culture, which touches on music, the movies, the magazines, and a great deal more. A splendid gallery of photographs follows the essays. American photography from Jacob Riis and Alfr.