Levens, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence, France 1950

Paul Strand captured this gelatin silver print of Levens in Alpes-Maritimes, Provence, France. Strand was part of a generation of photographers that wanted to prove that photography was an art form equivalent to painting, drawing, or sculpture. His black and white photographs from this period have a documentary quality, but it is important to remember that they do not simply record reality. Strand’s images are composed with as much care as a painting, using light, shadow, and texture to create depth and interest. Take the rough texture of the stone wall on the right, for example, or the placement of the small window at the top of the frame. Strand was supported by patrons and institutions that believed photography could function as art. His images were displayed in galleries and museums, and reproduced in books and journals. To fully appreciate Strand’s work, we need to remember that it reflects a particular cultural moment. Historians of photography rely on a variety of primary sources, including letters, diaries, and exhibition catalogs to understand the context in which photographs were made and exhibited.