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.