When did documentary photography begin?
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The origins of documentary photography date back to the mid-19th century, shortly after the invention of photography. Early photographers quickly realized that this new technology could be used not only to capture portraits and landscapes, but also to objectively document events, social conditions and historical realities.
One of the first significant examples of documentary photography dates back to the Crimean War (1853-1856), when British photographer Roger Fenton captured images of soldiers and battlefields. These images were intended to show the public the realities of war, although they were often softened so as not to shock viewers. Shortly afterwards, photographers such as Mathew Brady and Alexander Gardner documented the American Civil War (1861-1865), bringing brutal, realistic images of fighting, battlefields and soldiers that had a profound impact on the public’s perception of war.
In the early 20th century, documentary photography took on a more marked social dimension with photographers such as Jacob Riis and Lewis Hine, who used photography to denounce the living conditions of immigrants in the slums of New York and the working conditions of children in factories. Their work helped raise public awareness and initiate social reforms.
Documentary photography took off during the Great Depression, with photographers like Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans and Gordon Parks working for the U.S. Farm Security Administration (FSA). Their images of rural families devastated by poverty played a key role in raising public awareness and shaping American social policy.
Thus, documentary photography, born in the 19th century, became a powerful tool for visual storytelling and social change, capturing reality with raw honesty and a commitment to truth. Today, it remains an essential means of documenting contemporary events and raising awareness of social, political and environmental causes worldwide.
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When did documentary photography begin?
Answer
Documentary photography emerged in the mid-19th century, with photographers capturing social, political and historical realities to inform and educate the public.