Tate Modern to Reframe Pictorialism as Global Movement in Major Exhibition

From 14 October 2026 to 21 February 2027, Tate Modern will host 'Light & Magic: The Birth of Art Photography,' marking the first significant exhibition dedicated to Pictorialism as a worldwide photographic movement. Featuring 200 rare vintage prints from over 80 artists across Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Australia, the exhibition spans from the 1880s to the 1960s. Divided into four thematic sections, it reexamines the conventional Euro-American perspective, showcasing photographers like Long Chin-san, Luo Bonian, and Shapoor N. Bhedwar alongside renowned figures such as Clarence H. White and Adolph de Meyer. The event also highlights photographic printmaking techniques, including alternative methods, studio portraiture, and early color photography, and includes a working darkroom. Additionally, it delves into the global network of photographic societies and clubs, featuring publications from institutions like London's Royal Photographic Society and Shanghai's Guangshe. The concluding galleries reassess Pictorialism's connection to Modernism through works by Lionel Wendt, Shigeru Onishi, Edward Steichen, Paul Strand, and Edward Weston, underscoring Tate Modern's dedication to showcasing diverse narratives in modern art.