Robert Tat Gallery presents a tribute to the photographic salons of the 20th century. Before the 1970s, photography was rarely shown in galleries or collected by museums. The main means for photographers to exhibit their work was the Photographic Salon. Camera clubs worldwide sponsored these annual exhibitions, and invited members of other clubs to submit works for consideration and to be entered in the judging competition. The salons played an important role in building the art. They paved the way for full acknowledgement of photographic art, inclusion of photographs in museum collections, and development of the commercial market in galleries and at auction.
During the first half of the 20th century, the exhibitions were particularly rich, featuring the works of many photographers who later became well known. Names such as Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Ruth Bernhard and Edward Weston can be found in salon catalogues along side those of lesser-known photographers of the day.
As major-name vintage works become more rare and inaccessible, many collectors are beginning to appreciate this largely under-acknowledged body of work. Many significant photography collections now include Salon Photographs to lend depth and variety to the collection.
Photographers on view: Jose Alemany, Karl Baumgaertel, Ruth Bernhard, Imogen Cunningham, Floyd Evans, Johan Hagemeyer, Fan Ho, George Hoxie, Mitchel Obrimski, Nata Piaskowski, William Rittase, William Simpson…
EXHIBITION
20th Century Salon Photography: A Tribute
From September 4 to November 29, 2014
Robert Tat Gallery
49 Geary Street – Suite 410
San Francisco, CA 94108
USA
