History of Photography 1839 to 1930s from Udemy

This history of photography course is an art historical study of photography from its invention in 1839 until the 1930s. History of Photography will focus on the historical developments, trends, styles, and movements that have shaped our understanding of photography. This course consists of chronological and thematic examinations of the role of photography in relation to artistic production, art movements, social, political, and economic history, science, anthropology, landscape, politics, identity, culture, colonialism, war, and portraiture.

We will investigate the vast array of styles, artistic practices, noteworthy photographers, photographic processes, and movements in the medium throughout the period. We will also examine how the photograph has been positioned as a documentary tool and a form of objective truth and look at how this approach has been questioned and re-envisioned. Through this course you will learn how photography has been used to capture and transform the world, its inhabitants, conflicts, triumphs, and histories.

Slide lists with information about the images in the lectures and lists of optional, free online short videos about each topic will be provided for each lecture. I also have a History of Photography: 1930s to 2010s course that covers the second part of photography’s history posted on Udemy.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Develop skills in formal and visual analysis
Develop an understanding of the history of photography and its relationship to social, economic, philosophical, and political contexts

Learn about a variety of photographers and art movements
Learn about social, political, and economic histories through analysing photography and art

Develop skills in formal and visual analysis
Develop an understanding of the history of photography and its relationship to social, economic, philosophical, and political contexts
Learn about a variety of photographers and art movements
Learn about social, political, and economic histories through analysing photography and art

Syllabus

Introduction

Understand the origins of photography and the first photographic processes

The Origins of Photography: Niépce, Daguerre & Fox Talbot (1839-1845)

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores photography's relationship to social, economic, philosophical, and political contexts, providing a broad understanding of its historical significance

Examines photography's role in colonialism and topographical surveys, offering insights into its historical applications and impact on society

Investigates early war photography, covering conflicts like the Crimean War, US Civil War, and WWI, which provides a historical perspective on photojournalism

Focuses on photography from 1839 to the 1930s, so learners interested in contemporary photography may need to seek additional resources

Includes slide lists and optional online videos, which enriches the learning experience with visual aids and supplementary materials

Continues into the 1930s to 2010s in a separate course, which may require learners to take multiple courses to gain a comprehensive understanding

Reviews summary

Historical journey through early photography

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive and insightful journey through the early history of photography. Students highlight the clarity and depth of the lectures, finding the content highly engaging and well-structured. Many appreciate the instructor's expertise and passion for the subject. Reviewers found the course a great introduction to the topic, providing a solid foundation for understanding photography's evolution and its relation to broader historical contexts. The course material is described as rich and detailed, making complex topics accessible. While some wish for even more detail on specific areas, the overall feedback indicates a highly positive learning experience that exceeds expectations.

Get a solid introduction for further study.

"This course served as an excellent introduction to the history of photography. I feel I have a good base to build upon."

"It provides a really good foundation for anyone interested in this period of photography history."

"As a beginner, I found this course perfectly pitched to give me the basics without being overwhelming."

"This course is a great starting point if you want to understand the origins and early evolution of photography."

Benefit from the instructor's deep knowledge and passion.

"The instructor is clearly knowledgeable and passionate about the subject, which makes the course more enjoyable."

"It's clear the instructor has a deep understanding of photography history. Their enthusiasm is contagious."

"I felt confident in the material presented because the instructor demonstrated genuine expertise."

"The professor's insights and perspective added significant value to the learning experience."

Learn through clear, interesting, and well-delivered lectures.

"The lectures were clear, engaging, and well-paced. The visual examples used were particularly helpful."

"Lectures are engaging and informative. Easy to follow along and makes learning about this subject enjoyable."

"I really enjoyed the lectures. They were presented in a way that kept my attention and made the material easy to absorb."

"The delivery of the material was excellent, making even complex ideas easy to understand."

Explore a rich, well-researched history of photography.

"The content covered was detailed, well-researched and provided a good foundation for exploring the history of photography."

"This course provides a good overview of the history of photography and explores in detail some important topics."

"The content of the course was rich and detailed, covering significant developments and figures."

"I found the information presented to be thorough and well-organized, giving me a clear understanding of the period."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in History of Photography 1839 to 1930s with these activities:

Review art history basics

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Strengthen your foundation in art history to better understand the context of photography.

Browse courses on Art History

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Review key art movements and concepts.
Focus on the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Identify connections between art and photography.

Review 'A World History of Photography' by Naomi Rosenblum

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Gain a broader and more detailed understanding of the historical timeline and global context of photography.

View A World History of Photography on Amazon

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Acquire a copy of 'A World History of Photography'.
Read relevant chapters corresponding to the course syllabus.
Take notes on key photographers, movements, and technologies.

Create a timeline of photographic processes

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Solidify your understanding of the evolution of photographic technology.

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Research the key photographic processes from 1839-1930s.
Create a visual timeline with dates and descriptions.
Include examples of photographs made with each process.

Four other activities

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Read 'On Photography' by Susan Sontag

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Deepen your understanding of photography's cultural impact and theoretical underpinnings.

View Sontag on Film on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'On Photography'.
Read the essays, taking notes on key arguments.
Reflect on how Sontag's ideas relate to the course content.

Write a blog post on early war photography

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Reinforce your understanding of the challenges and impact of documenting conflicts through photography.

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Review the lecture on early war photography.
Research specific examples of war photographs.
Write a blog post discussing the ethical and historical implications.

Compile a list of resources on Pictorialism

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Deepen your knowledge of Pictorialism by gathering relevant articles, websites, and museum collections.

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Search online databases and museum websites.
Compile a list of relevant resources with brief descriptions.
Organize the resources by type (articles, websites, etc.).

Research a photographer from the course

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Expand your knowledge of a specific photographer and their contribution to the history of photography.

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Choose a photographer covered in the course.
Research their life, work, and historical context.
Write a short paper summarizing your findings.

Career center

Learners who complete History of Photography 1839 to 1930s will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Art historian

An art historian researches and analyzes art, often specializing in a particular period or medium, and this course provides a unique introduction to the history of photography from its inception to the 1930s. This course is a deep dive into the historical developments, trends, styles, and movements that shaped our understanding of photography. The course's examination of photography in relation to artistic production, art movements, and social, political, and economic history helps one build the essential knowledge needed for an art historian role. A specific focus on artistic practices and the role of photography as both documentary evidence and artistic expression is extremely relevant for this career.

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Museum curator

A museum curator is responsible for the acquisition, care, and display of museum artifacts. To become a museum curator, a strong understanding of art history is typically needed, and this History of Photography course provides just that. The course's in-depth exploration of early photographic processes, movements, and styles from 1839 to the 1930s helps build a foundation. Thematic examinations of photography's role in social, political, and economic history, as well as an analysis of its use in science, anthropology, and war are very relevant for a museum curator working with photographic collections. This course may be particularly attractive to those interested in curation that involves early photography.

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Archival Researcher

An archival researcher examines historical documents and artifacts, and often specializes in a particular type of material. This History of Photography course helps an archival researcher develop a strong understanding of the historical context and significance of early photographs. The course's examination of photographic processes, the use of photographs as documentary tools, and thematic explorations of photography's role in various fields, including social, economic, and political history, makes this course helpful. This course's focus on the chronological trajectory of photograph and its various applications within society's history will lead to deeper insights for an archival researcher.

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Photography Critic

A photography critic analyzes and interprets photographic works. The History of Photography course is relevant to those pursuing this career, as it provides deep knowledge of the historical developments, trends, styles, and movements that have shaped photography. The course content, which includes the analysis of a wide array of styles, noteworthy photographers, photographic processes, and movements is vital for someone in this career. A future photography critic will find the analysis of photography's role within art movements and its function as a documentary tool particularly relevant. Furthermore, it will help one develop skills in formal and visual analysis.

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Fine Art Photographer

A fine art photographer creates photographs as art. This History of Photography course may be useful as it covers the historical developments and evolution of the form from its inception until the 1930s. The course explores a variety of styles, artistic practices, and movements within the medium. A fine art photographer can benefit from the course's examination of photography's role in art movements, its use as a tool for capturing and transforming the world, and the ways that it has been positioned and questioned as a form of objective truth. This course may encourage a different approach to one's own work.

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Historical Consultant

A historical consultant provides expertise on historical matters to various projects. This History of Photography course may help one gain a valuable understanding of photography's role in the past. The course's coverage of the historical developments, trends, styles, and movements in photography from the 1830s to the 1930s may help one better assess the historical context for images. Thematic studies within the course, including how photography intersected with social, political, and economic history and science, is also important to this role. This course may give a historical consultant a unique perspective when advising on projects involving visual and historical analysis.

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Image Licensing Specialist

An image licensing specialist manages the rights and permissions for the use of images, and this History of Photography course may be helpful for a specialist who deals with historical photography. The course provides an examination of the history of photography from its invention to the 1930s, covering various styles, artistic practices, and movements. The course's focus on the role of photography in art, science, anthropology, and social and political history will familiarize the licensing specialist with the context and significance of the images. Understanding how photography was used to capture and transform the world will give one a helpful and critical eye on the medium.

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Exhibition Designer

An exhibition designer creates layouts and experiences for exhibitions in museums, galleries, and other spaces. This History of Photography course may offer a foundation for those interested in designing exhibitions that include early photography. The course's deep dive into the history of photography, including historical developments, trends, styles, and movements, provides context and a critical understanding of the medium. The detailed analysis of different photographic processes, as well as the exploration of how photography has been used in art, science, and social history may be extremely relevant when creating meaningful and historically accurate exhibitions.

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Documentary Filmmaker

A documentary filmmaker researches, films, and edits documentaries, often relying on archival footage and photographs. This History of Photography course may help build a foundation for understanding the historical value and context of early photography. This course helps one learn about photography's history and its intersection with social, economic, and political contexts and also covers the photographic processes and movements of the time. The course may be especially helpful when a filmmaker wants to use historical imagery in their work, as it covers how photography has been used as a documentary tool, capturing conflicts, and documenting histories.

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Content Creator

A content creator plans, develops, and produces digital content. This History of Photography course may be useful for those who use visuals in their content. The course offers a comprehensive overview of the history of photography, from the 1830s to the 1930s. It also explores how photography has been used to capture and transform the world, its inhabitants, conflicts, triumphs, and histories. This course can help a content creator better understand the visual medium, and its social and historical significance. It may be particularly useful for those focused on photography, art or history related content.

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Digital Archivist

A digital archivist manages and preserves digital assets, and this History of Photography course may be helpful for someone who will work with digitized historical photographs. By exploring the history of photography, from its invention to the 1930s, this course gives the digital archivist essential context for the material. The course examines the various photographic processes, aesthetics, and influences on the medium and explains how photography has been positioned, questioned, and re-envisioned as a documentary tool and objective truth. Through this course, a digital archivist will gain new insights when managing and preserving historical photographs.

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Publishing Editor

A publishing editor oversees the development and production of publications, and this History of Photography course may be helpful for an editor who works with books or other publications that rely on historical photographs. The course's historical overview of photography, from the 1830s to the 1930s, helps build a better understanding of the medium. The course covers an analysis of photographic styles, artistic practices, and movements, and it explores how photography has been used to capture and transform the world. This knowledge informs decisions about image selection and presentation in publications.

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Social Media Manager

A social media manager creates and curates content for various social media platforms. This History of Photography course may be helpful for a social media manager who works with visually driven content, or for those whose clients or company are interested in vintage art and photography. The course explores photography's history from 1839 to the 1930s and dives into its various artistic practices and movements. A social media manager can benefit from a deeper understanding of the history of the medium and how photography has been used throughout history to capture and transform the world. It could help give them more creative ideas for content.

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Creative Director

A creative director oversees the creative direction of visual and marketing material. This History of Photography course may be useful for creative directors who may work with clients that rely on vintage photography. The course explores the historical trajectory of photography from its inception to the 1930s. It examines many photographic processes, artistic practices, and movements. A creative director will find that this course may inspire and guide their decision making with regards to the use of photography in creative projects. With an understanding of the importance of photography within the history of visual culture, a creative director can better develop marketing and visual projects.

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Graphic Designer

A graphic designer creates visual concepts through software or by hand. This History of Photography course may be useful for a graphic designer who needs to work with or be inspired by vintage photography. The curriculum covers the history of photography from its inception to the 1930s and examines the various processes and artistic movements. The exploration of how photography has been used in art, science, and social history can inform a graphic designer's visual literacy. This course may help guide stylistic choices when working on a project with a vintage aesthetic, or when seeking inspiration.

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History of Photography 1839 to 1930s

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Historical journey through early photography

Activities

Career center

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