Abstraction c. 1930s

This photograph, "Abstraction," was made by Eugene Dallen, though we don't know exactly when. It presents an arrangement of geometric forms. What are we to make of these shapes? Photographs like this, which move away from realism toward abstraction, were made as a challenge to the established art world. Early photography was often seen as merely a tool for documentation, not a medium capable of artistic expression. But by focusing on form and composition, photographers sought to prove their place in the art world. In the early to mid-20th century, art institutions were undergoing significant changes, with debates raging about what constituted "high art" and who had the authority to decide. Avant-garde artists often used abstraction as a means of critiquing the perceived elitism and traditionalism of established art institutions. Understanding this image fully requires research into the debates and social conditions that shaped artistic production at the time. The meaning of art, as this example shows, is deeply rooted in its historical context.