Fotoreproductie van een foto door Edward Steichen, voorstellend een portret van William Merritt Chase before 1907

This is a reproduction of a photograph of William Merritt Chase by Edward Steichen. It was made sometime in the early 20th century in New York. Steichen was part of the Photo-Secession, an early 20th century movement that promoted photography as a fine art. The Secessionists sought to distinguish their work from commercial photography by emphasizing artistic composition and experimental techniques. Here, Steichen’s portrait of Chase embodies this ambition, presenting him as a serious artist rather than a mere society portraitist. He is wearing a top hat and the high-key lighting enhances his features. The image appeared in a German periodical devoted to elevating photography to the status of fine art. To understand the context of this image, scholars might consult periodicals such as "Camera Work" and the "Photo-Miniature," as well as institutional records from organizations like the Photo-Secession. Through this, we can better appreciate the changing status of photography and its relationship to broader artistic and social trends.