The Photo Periodical: Its History and Highlights (May 19)

Dates: May 19, 2024

Meetings: Sunday, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM CST

Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Cost: $95 (HCP members receive a 10% discount)

Instructor: Jon Evans

Skill Level: Open to All Levels

Since the earliest days of photography, photographers have used the serial nature of the periodical to share recent bodies of photographic work, address issues of immediate artistic and social concern, and to engage readers in ongoing practical and theoretical discourses about the medium. Photo periodicals have embraced a certain degree of experimentation in design, typography, and layout that often presage these same developments in the photobook as a form.

This workshop explores the range of photographically illustrated periodicals that have developed over the past two centuries, examining trends in publishing and exploring creative approaches to content and design, while also looking at challenges endemic to the medium. Join Jon Evans, Chief of Libraries & Archives at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, as he shares select masterworks of the genre, including The Pencil of Nature (1844-1846), Camera Work (1903-1917), U.S.S.R. in Construction (1930-1940, 1949), Aperture (1952-present), and Provoke (1968-1969), as well as numerous contemporary examples. Each comes from the internationally recognized photobook collection at the MFAH. Students will have the opportunity to study these works alongside photographs from the museum’s collection as well as enjoy a unique guided tour through the museum’s rare book and periodical collections. This workshop will take place at the MFAH.

Objectives:

• Recognize what constitutes a photo periodical and learn about its rich and complex history

• Identify key components of a successfully designed and executed photo periodical

• Better understand the interconnected history of photography and photo periodicals

• Learn about the various processes used to create photo periodicals

• Get an insider’s view of the Hirsch Library and The Manfred Heiting Book Collection at the MFAH

• Develop a deeper appreciation for photo periodicals of all types

Prerequisites: None

Course Prep: 

Participants are encouraged to bring pencils, paper, laptops, and an open mind. Students are strongly encouraged to review a modest reading list (will be emailed before the workshop) as a basis for discussions.