Edward Steichen (1879–1973, American) is considered one of the twentieth century’s preeminent photographers. A founding member of the Photo-Secession, Steichen was instrumental in promoting photography as an art form. Incorporating elements of painting, particularly Surrealism and geometric abstraction, Steichen created tightly designed photographic compositions that did not seek to replicate reality. The works on view in the exhibition exemplify Steichen’s classical renditions of still lifes. These exquisitely executed photographs of fruit and fully opened flowers further accentuate the artist’s hyper beautiful and personified subject matter.
–Affinities and Outliers: Highlights from the University at Albany Fine Art Collections