In the Twilight 1889

Lydell Sawyer created this photogravure, “In the Twilight,” sometime before his death in 1908. It depicts a couple on a hazy riverbank at dusk. This image emerged from a time when photography was striving for recognition as an art form. The Photo-Secession movement, led by Alfred Stieglitz, promoted photography as fine art, distinct from its purely documentary uses. Sawyer's soft focus and idyllic subject align with the movement's Pictorialist aesthetic. The image evokes a sense of leisure and perhaps romance. It offers a glimpse into the aspirations and social values of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We might consider gender roles, class distinctions, and the growing interest in leisure activities among the middle class. To fully appreciate this work, we can consult period journals, exhibition catalogs, and biographical information on Sawyer. Understanding the institutional and social context will give us greater insight into the cultural role of photography at the turn of the century.