Stiechen:The Master Prints 1895-1914 The Symbolist Period

Focusing on the symbolist period of Edward Steichen's work, this book discusses the roots of Steichen's photography and provides examples of his work from 1895-1914. Dennis Longwell, the author, emphasizes that it is not correct to link Steichen's symbolist photographs with French Impressionism of the 1870s and 1880s even though it influenced his early landscapes. To get a better understanding of Steichen, Longwell provides some background on him. This helps in recognizing what influences affected Steichen's work. For example, in the early years, Steichen was heavily shaped by the publication of Camera Notes edited by Alfred Stieglitz.As stated by Longwell, "Symbolism was, above all, the art of suggestion and of synthesis." One of Steichen's works which shows this concept very well is Rodin-Le Pensur (1902). Two separate negatives were put together to make the symbolic print. Many of Steichin's prints are just as beautiful as this piece and it is possible to view them in this book. Next to each picture, Longwell not only provides the title and date; but he also includes related text for more background on many of the photographs. If you enjoy photography and the concept of symbolism, do not pass this book up. The prints are beautiful and soft... from landscapes to portraits; I believe that this book focuses on a very interesting aspect of photography and a great photographer.