American art to World War II

Photography

The United States is especially known for the development of "straight photography"—making direct and unapologetic use of the medium.

1900 - 1945

videos + essays

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Harold Edgerton, Milk-Drop Coronet Splash

A drop of milk landing into a bowl makes an elegant crown shape, thanks to Edgerton’s stroboscope.

Ansel Adams: Visualizing a Photograph

Straight from the horse’s mouth: the process of making a photograph, in the artist’s own words.

Walker Evans, Subway Passengers, New York City

These photographs, taken covertly on the New York City subway, show that seeing is in itself a creative act.