Pictorialism

 Grand Prix at Longchamp: After the Races, Paris, 1907

The photograph title 'After the races' enlightens you that the image has been taken after an event. After reading the title it is easy to predict that it may be a busy photograph. The photograph itself comes across as chaotic with several people in the centre of the image; because of this your eyes are almost confused what part of the photograph to be drawn to. With there bodies positioned away from the camera, this suggests that this photo was a snapshot, to me it gives off the impression that the photographer didn't want to be noticed, almost as if he was 'never there', and the dark light framing the photograph emphasises this point. This visual information is typical of pictorialism; since the photgraphs composition is like a painting, with the darkness framing the main part of the photo, also the darkness relates to a smaller depth of field. Additionally the medium used is a hand-pulled dust-grain photogravure, giving the image a misty soft focus, and a slightly grainy effect. Being a painter before discovering photography allowed Edward Steichen to influence photography as an art form, this was reflected by his Pictorialist approach was recognised by his soft focus 'dreamy-like' images.The photograph reflects the time/events in the period it was made. At that time it was only the upper class citizens who could afford to attend such events as the races, and here this status is portrayed through what the people are wearing, with their fancy hats, umbrellas, heavy dresses and white heels. Also the transport in the photograph is horse and carriage which was the quickest way at that time.