Masters of American Photography exhibit opens May 1 at Upcountry History Museum

It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and the 24 images displayed in the Masters of American Photography exhibit opening at Greenville’s Upcountry History Museum on May 1 takes visitors on a pictorial journey that traces the history of photography from the mid-19th century to the 20th century.

From Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans to Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand and Margaret Bourke-White, the exhibit showcases the range of these notable photographers and the influence each had on the Pictorialism movement which sought to elevate the status of photography to a fine art.

Themes such as portraiture, landscape, cityscape, still life, motion capture and cultural history are explored in an impressive array of works by these most important artists in the chronicles of photography.

On display from May 1 through August 8, Masters of American Photography allows visitors to explore an extraordinary time in the early history of what has not only become a profession and hobby, but a passion and art form for many. This definitive collection, comprised of many vintage prints, was organized by the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Emphasizing the experimental nature and evolution of photographic techniques from the 1880s through the 1980s, this unique exhibition showcases some of the photographs made during the Great Depression to call attention to the challenges of rural poverty and the impact on the people whose lives were documented as part of the collective record.

Want to visit?

Upcountry History Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, 540 Buncombe St., in Greenville, SC 29601.

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Beginning June 6, 2021, the museum will reopen on Sundays from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Please note that the museum adheres to a mandatory mask requirement for visitors ages 10 years and older.

For more information, call 864-467-3100 or visit upcountryhistory.org.