DOI Heft:
No. 66 (August, 1902)
DOI Artikel:Pictorial photography at the St. Louis exposition
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22774#0197
American Studio Talk
PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AT
THE ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION.
Relative to the notes which appeared in the June
number of The Studio, on the subject of the dis-
play of pictorial photography at the St. Louis
Exposition, the following letter has been received
from Col. John A. Ockerson, Chief of the Depart-
ment of Liberal Arts.
St. Louis, U.S.A., June 9, 1902.
Editor “The International Studio":
Dear Sir, — I note, with much satisfaction, that
you have given space to the question of photog-
raphy at the Universal Exposition to be held in
St. Louis in 1904.
While I doubt not that your comments were
intended as entirely fair and just to both sides, it
seems plain that my position has been misunder-
stood, and I, therefore, beg your indulgence in
offering the following explanation.
The situation confronting me when I entered
upon my duties as Chief of this Department was
as follows :
The propositions made by the photographers,
through Mr. Strauss, for a separate building had
been rejected, and photography in general had been
assigned to the Department of Liberal Arts by the
officials of the Exposition. In my opinion, this
was right and proper. The photographers, how-
ever, were not satisfied and put forth claims for
the work of the artist in photography, and de-
manded space in the Fine Arts Palace for what
they termed artistic photography. They insisted
on segregating a certain kind of photographic work
and holding it aloof from the class of work done
in every-day photography.
In my opinion, the move for a separate building
was a mistake. A building of the necessary dimen-
sions to cover the entire field of photography would
be quite small and insignificant when surrounded
by the gigantic palaces of the Exposition, and it
certainly would not have met the demands made
later for “ artistic photography.”
A number of interviews were had with Mr.
Strauss and others with the hope that some satis-
factory solution of the problem could be reached.
On my part, the disposition to meet the wishes
of photographers as well as all other exhibitors, as
far as practicable, must have been apparent to all
who participated in these conferences.
That there is certain high-grade artistic work in
photography was not for a moment questioned, but
just how to provide for it under the approved classi-
fication was not so readily determined.
After much careful consideration by Prof. Halsey
C. Ives, Chief of the Art Department, and myself,
an agreement was reached whereby such pictures as
satisfactorily passed the scrutiny of the “ National
Jury of Selection ” should be hung in the Art
Palace.
The classification is shown in detail in Circular
No. 5 of this Department, inclosed herewith, and
I hope that you may find space for it in your
columns.
Mr. Strauss deserves much credit for his efforts
in behalf of photography, and in the future I trust
that his influence will be directed toward the devel-
opment of a grand display of photographic work
from all parts of the world.
France has already signified her intention of
sending a generous display of her choicest work.
Trusting that the above disposition of the matter
may be satisfactory to the photographic fraternity,
and that this department may be accorded their
hearty support, in return for which I again pledge
them all the assistance in my power, and beg to
remain,
Yours very truly,
J. A. Ockerson,
Chief Department of Liberal Arts.
[Extract from Circular No. 5, referred to above.']
DEPARTMENT OF LIBERAL ARTS.
Group 16.
PHOTOGRAPHY.
EQUIPMENT, PROCESSES, AND PRODUCTS.
Class 54. Materials, instruments, and apparatus of
photography, equipment of photographic studios.
Class 55. Negative and positive photography on
glass, paper, wood, cloth, films, enamel, etc.
Photogravure in intaglio and in relief; photocol-
lography, photolithography-stereoscopic prints.
Enlarged and micrographic photographs. Color
photography. Direct, indirect, and photo-color
printing. Scientific and other applications of
photography. Artistic photography as applied
to portraiture, landscapes, etc.
This group embraces the equipment, processes,
and products of photography in all its branches.
Photography will here find an attractive home,
amid congenial surroundings, filled with displays of
the graphic arts, music, the drama, civil engineer-
ing, architecture, etc.
Special provisions will be made for the dis-
play of selected high-grade examples of artistic
photography.
Ixxxv
PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY AT
THE ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION.
Relative to the notes which appeared in the June
number of The Studio, on the subject of the dis-
play of pictorial photography at the St. Louis
Exposition, the following letter has been received
from Col. John A. Ockerson, Chief of the Depart-
ment of Liberal Arts.
St. Louis, U.S.A., June 9, 1902.
Editor “The International Studio":
Dear Sir, — I note, with much satisfaction, that
you have given space to the question of photog-
raphy at the Universal Exposition to be held in
St. Louis in 1904.
While I doubt not that your comments were
intended as entirely fair and just to both sides, it
seems plain that my position has been misunder-
stood, and I, therefore, beg your indulgence in
offering the following explanation.
The situation confronting me when I entered
upon my duties as Chief of this Department was
as follows :
The propositions made by the photographers,
through Mr. Strauss, for a separate building had
been rejected, and photography in general had been
assigned to the Department of Liberal Arts by the
officials of the Exposition. In my opinion, this
was right and proper. The photographers, how-
ever, were not satisfied and put forth claims for
the work of the artist in photography, and de-
manded space in the Fine Arts Palace for what
they termed artistic photography. They insisted
on segregating a certain kind of photographic work
and holding it aloof from the class of work done
in every-day photography.
In my opinion, the move for a separate building
was a mistake. A building of the necessary dimen-
sions to cover the entire field of photography would
be quite small and insignificant when surrounded
by the gigantic palaces of the Exposition, and it
certainly would not have met the demands made
later for “ artistic photography.”
A number of interviews were had with Mr.
Strauss and others with the hope that some satis-
factory solution of the problem could be reached.
On my part, the disposition to meet the wishes
of photographers as well as all other exhibitors, as
far as practicable, must have been apparent to all
who participated in these conferences.
That there is certain high-grade artistic work in
photography was not for a moment questioned, but
just how to provide for it under the approved classi-
fication was not so readily determined.
After much careful consideration by Prof. Halsey
C. Ives, Chief of the Art Department, and myself,
an agreement was reached whereby such pictures as
satisfactorily passed the scrutiny of the “ National
Jury of Selection ” should be hung in the Art
Palace.
The classification is shown in detail in Circular
No. 5 of this Department, inclosed herewith, and
I hope that you may find space for it in your
columns.
Mr. Strauss deserves much credit for his efforts
in behalf of photography, and in the future I trust
that his influence will be directed toward the devel-
opment of a grand display of photographic work
from all parts of the world.
France has already signified her intention of
sending a generous display of her choicest work.
Trusting that the above disposition of the matter
may be satisfactory to the photographic fraternity,
and that this department may be accorded their
hearty support, in return for which I again pledge
them all the assistance in my power, and beg to
remain,
Yours very truly,
J. A. Ockerson,
Chief Department of Liberal Arts.
[Extract from Circular No. 5, referred to above.']
DEPARTMENT OF LIBERAL ARTS.
Group 16.
PHOTOGRAPHY.
EQUIPMENT, PROCESSES, AND PRODUCTS.
Class 54. Materials, instruments, and apparatus of
photography, equipment of photographic studios.
Class 55. Negative and positive photography on
glass, paper, wood, cloth, films, enamel, etc.
Photogravure in intaglio and in relief; photocol-
lography, photolithography-stereoscopic prints.
Enlarged and micrographic photographs. Color
photography. Direct, indirect, and photo-color
printing. Scientific and other applications of
photography. Artistic photography as applied
to portraiture, landscapes, etc.
This group embraces the equipment, processes,
and products of photography in all its branches.
Photography will here find an attractive home,
amid congenial surroundings, filled with displays of
the graphic arts, music, the drama, civil engineer-
ing, architecture, etc.
Special provisions will be made for the dis-
play of selected high-grade examples of artistic
photography.
Ixxxv