Beaumont Newhall Quotes

Curator
1908 - 1993

Beaumont Newhall was an American photographer, writer, and curator who played a significant role in shaping the history of photography as an art form. He is best known for his groundbreaking book “The History of Photography: From 1839 to the Present,” which is considered a seminal work in the field. Newhall was also a curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, where he organized several influential exhibitions, including “Photography 1839-1937” and “The Family of Man.” He was a strong advocate for photography as a legitimate art form and helped establish it as such through his writings and curatorial work. Newhall’s contributions to the field of photography continue to be celebrated and studied today.Read Less

3 Insightful Beaumont Newhall Quotes

The present challenge to the photographer is to express inner significance through outward form. Feraz Zeid, December 28, 2023, Beaumont Newhall, Challenge, Form, Photographer, 0

- Beaumont Newhall

Curator

If the historian will be faithful to the photograph, the photograph will be faithful to history. Feraz Zeid, December 28, 2023, Beaumont Newhall, Faithful, Historian, Photography, 0

- Beaumont Newhall

Curator

We are not interested in the unusual, but in the usual seen unusually. Feraz Zeid, December 27, 2023, Beaumont Newhall, Photography, Unusual, Usual, 0

- Beaumont Newhall

Curator

Beaumont Newhall Career Highlights

Beaumont Newhall was born on June 22, 1908 in Lynn, Massachusetts.
He attended Harvard University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1930.
In 1935, he received a Master of Arts degree in Art History from New York University.
Newhall began his career as a photographer, working for the Farm Security Administration during the Great Depression.
In 1937, he became the first curator of photography at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.
He curated several groundbreaking exhibitions at MoMA, including “Photography 1839-1937” and “The Family of Man.”
Newhall also wrote extensively on photography, publishing numerous books and articles on the subject.
In 1940, he became the editor of the influential photography magazine, “Aperture.”
In 1948, Newhall left MoMA to become the director of the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York.
He continued to curate exhibitions and publish books on photography, solidifying his reputation as a leading authority on the subject.
In 1968, Newhall returned to MoMA as the curator of the Department of Photography, a position he held until his retirement in 1971.
He continued to write and lecture on photography until his death in 1993.

Key Contributions by Beaumont Newhall

Newhall’s work as a curator at MoMA helped establish photography as a legitimate art form in the eyes of the art world.
His exhibitions and publications brought attention to the work of many important photographers, including Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Newhall’s book, “The History of Photography: From 1839 to the Present,” is considered a seminal text in the field and has been translated into multiple languages.
He also played a key role in the establishment of the International Center of Photography in New York City.

What Sets Beaumont Newhall Apart

Newhall’s background as a photographer himself gave him a unique perspective as a curator and historian.
He was known for his meticulous research and attention to detail, making him a highly respected authority on the history of photography.
Newhall’s ability to bridge the gap between the art world and the world of photography helped elevate the medium to a higher level of recognition and appreciation.

Takeaways

Beaumont Newhall’s contributions to the field of photography cannot be overstated.
His work as a curator, historian, and writer helped shape the way we view and understand photography today.
Newhall’s dedication to the medium and his passion for sharing its history and significance continue to inspire and influence photographers and art enthusiasts around the world.

Other People