Camera Work 13 05 - Early photography, Public domain image

Heinrich Kuhn was a pioneering photographer born on 14 February 1866 in Vienna, Austria. He was one of the most important figures in the development of pictorial photography, which aimed to create images that resembled paintings rather than photographs. Kuhn studied botany and zoology at the University of Vienna before taking up photography as a hobby. He became interested in the work of the Photo-Secession movement, led by the American photographer Alfred Stieglitz. The movement aimed to promote photography as an art form and emphasised the use of soft focus, tonality and composition. Kuhn's photographs were characterised by their soft focus and muted colours, which gave them a dreamlike quality. He often used his family and friends as models, creating intimate and atmospheric portraits that captured their personalities and moods. In 1902 Kuhn joined Stieglitz's Photo-Secession group and exhibited his work in their galleries. He also became a member of the Linked Ring Brotherhood of Photographers in London, exhibiting his work in their annual exhibitions. Kuhn continued to experiment with various photographic techniques throughout his career. He developed a process called 'gum bichromate', which involved coating paper with a mixture of watercolour pigment, gum arabic and potassium bichromate. The resulting prints had a soft, painterly quality that was highly sought after by collectors. Kuhn died on 14 September 1944 in Birgitz, Austria. His work continues to be celebrated for its beauty and technical innovation, and he is considered one of the most important photographers of the Pictorialist movement.

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