P. H. Emerson and the Experience of Vision

Abstract

P. H. Emerson was a doctor-turned-photographer who quickly gained acclaim in the 1880s, but who turned against his principles in the next decade. Emerson promoted his style of Pictorialism, known as Naturalism, which held that art photographs should be founded on scientific principles and be inspired by nature. Using the historical method, this study examines Emerson’s principles and argues Emerson abandoned his belief in photography as an art form for a variety of reasons, including his display of self-importance. His contribution is in promoting straight photography—unmanipulated, single-negative printing—even if he occasionally violated his own principles.