Modernism - Photography finds a voice

Photography began to look towards the future and an era called constructivism which was a new vision where propaganda was used. During this time the soviet union was formed and a need to communicate to the masses was used. The Russian Revolution used this and Lenin also used photomontage in their propaganda.

Gustav Klutis and Rodchenko were part of the constructivism movement. They used photomontage in there work which was created to make things look more impressive. The idea of looking forward and towards the future is shown in this poster which was used as propaganda in the soviet union. The young people in the poster represent the future and what the soviet union represented. They are looking out of the frame towards the right which shows they are looking towards the future.

Art deco emerged in the late 1920's and was a visual arts design style which was first started in france. It combines the Machine Age imagery and hard materials with rich colours and bold shapes. Art deco was influential on architecture. For example the chrysler building in new york has art deco influences.  

'Behind the Gare St Lazare'

'Behind the Gare St Lazare' by Henri Cartier Bressen is a good example of where he used something called 'The decisive moment'. This was the idea that all the elements in a photograph would come together to create this perfect moment. In this photograph the man in the front is jumping and his reflection is shown in the water. The ballet dancer on the poster in the background mimics the mans movement and the clock gives a notion of time.

'Chair Abstract'

A consumer society started to take over where machines and mass production replaced the handmade. Paul Strands 'Chair Abstract' 1916 shows use of light, shadow, reflection and a more abstract way of taking photographs. The image was made with a dry plate and the quality and print improved because of new technologies. There began to be a focus on being efficient where people were treated like machines rather than human beings. Charlie Chaplin's 'Modern Times' reflects this where he is used to test a machine.

'Migrant Mother'

There was a shift away from agriculture to the city. Dororthea Lange's 'Migrant Mother' shows a woman with two children. The photograph has religious connotations and the mother is looking out the frame towards the left suggesting she is looking towards the past. The expression on her face however suggests that she is desperate or worried for the future, perhaps a better future for her children who are looking away from the camera.