A Rushy Shore 1886

Peter Henry Emerson made this platinum print, A Rushy Shore, at an unknown date. Emerson’s photography challenged the photography institutions of his time. He advocated for photography as an art form, distinct from painting. He photographed rural England in a naturalistic style. This image shows a landscape of marshy reeds under a cloudy sky. Peasant dwellings are visible in the background. The horizon is two thirds of the way up the frame, emphasizing the landscape over the sky. Emerson was interested in capturing an authentic view of the natural world, without idealizing the scene. In his 1889 book Naturalistic Photography, he argued that photographs should mimic how the human eye sees, with one area in sharp focus and the rest more blurry. He thus rejected the highly staged, manipulated photographs popular in art photography at the time. To understand Emerson’s work, look at the photographic journals and societies that debated the aesthetic value of photography in late 19th century England. Understanding the debates around artistic movements is essential to understanding the meaning of art.