Explore the first 150 years of photography, an art form that has changed our perception of the world. Learn about key artists, movements and theorists that have defined its history and shaped our contemporary reality.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
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This course traces the early history of photography from the first photograph of a human in 1839 to up 1989, the advent of the digital age. It is meant to give a broad overview of photography, its key movements and the important social and perceptual changes it has been a part of.
The course looks at photography as a chronology of art movements rather than the biographies of specific artists. We will only cover the following movements: 19th century scientific, portrait and documentary photography, Pictorialism, Straight Photography, Surrealism, New Vision, photojournalism, vernacular photography, Pop Art, Photorealism and ‘The Pictures Generation.’
Artists will be discussed as part of movements rather than be the focus of lectures. Some of the photographers included are, but not limited to Matthew Brady, Graciela Iturbide, Eugene Atget, Berenice Abbott, Julia Margaret Cameron, Sebastião Salgado, Gertrude Käsebier, Edward Steichen, Alfred Stieglitz, Tina Modotti, Sanlé Sory, Edward Weston, Man Ray, Kansuke Yamamoto, Audrey Flack, Lucia Muholy, Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Keizo Kitajima, Robert Capa, Diane Arbus, Tish Murtha, Andy Warhol, Carrie Mae Weems, Duane Michaels, Ming Smith, Ed Ruscha and Cindy Sherman.
The course will deal with the complexities of photography as both an art form and a documentary device. To work through these ideas, we will also read/discuss excerpts from some theoretical texts by Walter Benjamin, Roland Barthes and Ariella Azoulay.
A note for professional or serious amateur photographers: Photographic processes are not the focus of this course. The course is taught from an art historical perspective. Meaning, the historical style and social/cultural impact of the art works are the focus of this course. Advanced practitioners of photography may find the discussion of technical aspects cursory.
What will we cover?
• How photography impacts/is impacted by social changes and how photography has changed our perception of the world
• A series of significant photographic movements (as listed above)
• How the technology of photography as related to its form, covering certain experiments, techniques and visual elements
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Discuss how at least one of the movements reflects social change
Describe the visual characteristics of at least one of the movements discussed
Understand the unique history of photography as both art form and documentary device
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels. However, professional or serious amateur photographers may find the discussion of technical process cursory. This course is focused on social and cultural history of photography rather than the history of its technical processes.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations and hand-outs. You should be willing to read the assigned texts as they will be key to certain aspects of our lectures and discussions.
This is an online course open to all levels. Students should be familiar with or willing to learn to use digital systems to engage with class materials. These systems include Zoom and Google Classroom. If online learning is new to you, please have a look at our City Lit online learning help pages: click here.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date.
Please note: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided for future study.
Sarah is an art historian, educator, curator and writer based in London. Before her current position as art history tutor coordinator and programme lead at City Lit Sarah was a curator in the Department of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum. For six years, she was the lead educator for the Bridget Riley Art Foundation and has also worked at Wellcome Collection exploring the connections of art, medicine and human experience. Sarah has been an art history lecturer since 2003. Her first MA was in art history, her second MA was in cultural studies and her BA (first) was in art history. Sarah's expertise is in late 19th/early 20th century French art, but is also a generalist, teaching on a variety of topics and prefers to place artworks and objects in their wider social and cultural contexts, from the European Renaissance to the contemporary, emphasising new narratives and approaches to Western Art History.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/a-history-of-photography-the-first-150-years2644182A history of photography: the first 150 yearshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/a/-/a-history-of-photography-the-first-150-years-1080.jpg189189GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Introductory & general art history courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Online courses228511361137117717311228511771136<p>Explore the first 150 years of photography, an art form that has changed our perception of the world. Learn about key artists, movements and theorists that have defined its history and shaped our contemporary reality. </p>003030880A history of photography: the first 150 years189189https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/a/-/a-history-of-photography-the-first-150-years-1080_2.jpgInStockDaytimeWedOnlineNo longer available5-10 weeksWeekday2026-11-11T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allNov 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB237189189A history of photography: the first 150 years151123189Sarah Jaffraya-history-of-photography-the-first-150-years/vb237-2627<p>Explore the first 150 years of photography, an art form that has changed our perception of the world. Learn about key artists, movements and theorists that have defined its history and shaped our contemporary reality. </p>0015-FullStillOpen|2026-11-11 00:00:00<p>This course traces the early history of photography from the first photograph of a human in 1839 to up 1989, the advent of the digital age. It is meant to give a broad overview of photography, its key movements and the important social and perceptual changes it has been a part of. </p><p>The course looks at photography as a chronology of art movements rather than the biographies of specific artists. We will only cover the following movements: 19th century scientific, portrait and documentary photography, Pictorialism, Straight Photography, Surrealism, New Vision, photojournalism, vernacular photography, Pop Art, Photorealism and ‘The Pictures Generation.’</p><p>Artists will be discussed as part of movements rather than be the focus of lectures. Some of the photographers included are, but not limited to Matthew Brady, Graciela Iturbide, Eugene Atget, Berenice Abbott, Julia Margaret Cameron, Sebastião Salgado, Gertrude Käsebier, Edward Steichen, Alfred Stieglitz, Tina Modotti, Sanlé Sory, Edward Weston, Man Ray, Kansuke Yamamoto, Audrey Flack, Lucia Muholy, Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Keizo Kitajima, Robert Capa, Diane Arbus, Tish Murtha, Andy Warhol, Carrie Mae Weems, Duane Michaels, Ming Smith, Ed Ruscha and Cindy Sherman. </p><p>The course will deal with the complexities of photography as both an art form and a documentary device. To work through these ideas, we will also read/discuss excerpts from some theoretical texts by Walter Benjamin, Roland Barthes and Ariella Azoulay. </p><p><strong>A note for professional or serious amateur photographers</strong>: Photographic processes are not the focus of this course. The course is taught from an art historical perspective. Meaning, the historical style and social/cultural impact of the art works are the focus of this course. Advanced practitioners of photography may find the discussion of technical aspects cursory. </p><p>Explore the first 150 years of photography, an art form that has changed our perception of the world. Learn about key artists, movements and theorists that have defined its history and shaped our contemporary reality. </p><p>• How photography impacts/is impacted by social changes and how photography has changed our perception of the world </p><p>• A series of significant photographic movements (as listed above) </p><p>• How the technology of photography as related to its form, covering certain experiments, techniques and visual elements</p><ul><li>Discuss how at least one of the movements reflects social change </li><li>Describe the visual characteristics of at least one of the movements discussed</li><li>Understand the unique history of photography as both art form and documentary device </li></ul><p>This course is suitable for all levels. However, professional or serious amateur photographers may find the discussion of technical process cursory. This course is focused on social and cultural history of photography rather than the history of its technical processes. </p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations and hand-outs. You should be willing to read the assigned texts as they will be key to certain aspects of our lectures and discussions. </p><p>This is an online course open to all levels. Students should be familiar with or willing to learn to use digital systems to engage with class materials. These systems include Zoom and Google Classroom. If online learning is new to you, please have a look at our City Lit online learning help pages: <a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11278019338525-What-is-Google-Classroom" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.</p><p>You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date.</p><p><strong>Please note</strong>: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided for future study. </p><p>Modern art: movements 1900-1950</p><p>Modern art: movements 1950-2000</p>Art historyIntroductory & general art history coursesvirtual151189123VB237NONEWed11/11/26 - 16/12/2616:00 - 18:0016:0018:006 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayOnlineOnlineSarah JaffrayBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allNo longer available2026-11-11T00:00:00+00:00Nov 2026Culture, history & humanities189189A history of photography: the first 150 yearsa-history-of-photography-the-first-150-years/vb237-2627<p>Explore the first 150 years of photography, an art form that has changed our perception of the world. Learn about key artists, movements and theorists that have defined its history and shaped our contemporary reality. </p>0015-FullStillOpen|2026-11-11 00:00:00<p>This course traces the early history of photography from the first photograph of a human in 1839 to up 1989, the advent of the digital age. It is meant to give a broad overview of photography, its key movements and the important social and perceptual changes it has been a part of. </p><p>The course looks at photography as a chronology of art movements rather than the biographies of specific artists. We will only cover the following movements: 19th century scientific, portrait and documentary photography, Pictorialism, Straight Photography, Surrealism, New Vision, photojournalism, vernacular photography, Pop Art, Photorealism and ‘The Pictures Generation.’</p><p>Artists will be discussed as part of movements rather than be the focus of lectures. Some of the photographers included are, but not limited to Matthew Brady, Graciela Iturbide, Eugene Atget, Berenice Abbott, Julia Margaret Cameron, Sebastião Salgado, Gertrude Käsebier, Edward Steichen, Alfred Stieglitz, Tina Modotti, Sanlé Sory, Edward Weston, Man Ray, Kansuke Yamamoto, Audrey Flack, Lucia Muholy, Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Keizo Kitajima, Robert Capa, Diane Arbus, Tish Murtha, Andy Warhol, Carrie Mae Weems, Duane Michaels, Ming Smith, Ed Ruscha and Cindy Sherman. </p><p>The course will deal with the complexities of photography as both an art form and a documentary device. To work through these ideas, we will also read/discuss excerpts from some theoretical texts by Walter Benjamin, Roland Barthes and Ariella Azoulay. </p><p><strong>A note for professional or serious amateur photographers</strong>: Photographic processes are not the focus of this course. The course is taught from an art historical perspective. Meaning, the historical style and social/cultural impact of the art works are the focus of this course. Advanced practitioners of photography may find the discussion of technical aspects cursory. </p><p>Explore the first 150 years of photography, an art form that has changed our perception of the world. Learn about key artists, movements and theorists that have defined its history and shaped our contemporary reality. </p><p>• How photography impacts/is impacted by social changes and how photography has changed our perception of the world </p><p>• A series of significant photographic movements (as listed above) </p><p>• How the technology of photography as related to its form, covering certain experiments, techniques and visual elements</p><ul><li>Discuss how at least one of the movements reflects social change </li><li>Describe the visual characteristics of at least one of the movements discussed</li><li>Understand the unique history of photography as both art form and documentary device </li></ul><p>This course is suitable for all levels. However, professional or serious amateur photographers may find the discussion of technical process cursory. This course is focused on social and cultural history of photography rather than the history of its technical processes. </p><p>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations and hand-outs. You should be willing to read the assigned texts as they will be key to certain aspects of our lectures and discussions. </p><p>This is an online course open to all levels. Students should be familiar with or willing to learn to use digital systems to engage with class materials. These systems include Zoom and Google Classroom. If online learning is new to you, please have a look at our City Lit online learning help pages: <a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11278019338525-What-is-Google-Classroom" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>.</p><p>You will be taught online with slide presentations and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course via a Google Classroom. You will be invited to join the Google Classroom within a week of your course start date.</p><p><strong>Please note</strong>: this is a live lecture course and will not be recorded for playback for reasons of copyright, digital infrastructure and data protection.</p><p>You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided for future study. </p><p>Modern art: movements 1900-1950</p><p>Modern art: movements 1950-2000</p>Art historyIntroductory & general art history coursesconfigurable
11371136Introductory & general art history courseshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/art-history/introductory-general-art-history1/2/285/1177/1136/11371/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Introductory & general art history courses
