Module 7: Photography and Society

Comparison between the work of Alexander Rodchenko, Peter Kennard and John Heartfield

"Photography have had huge impact on society by creating public perception about various historical events, people, places, etc. Governments have been using photography as a tool to promote their activities". (Gordana, course content, module 7, page 6)

Alexander Rodchenko (1891–1956)

Already known as a painter, sculptor, and designer, conquered traditional photography with the slogan “Our duty is to experiment!” This resulted in a reconsideration of the concept and role of photography. Conceptual work entered the stage. Instead of being an illustration of reality, photography became a means to visually represent intellectual constructs, and the artist became an “artist-engineer”.

Yet Rodchenko was much more than a dynamic image maker. He wrote manifestos to accompany almost every one of his picture series, tirelessly promoting his concept of Russian Constructivism to the world. Destabilizing diagonals, harsh contrasts, tilted views, and picture and text collages are design elements found in his photographs. To this day they form, together with his texts, a unique document of the indefatigable artistic energy that is also manifest in Alexander Rodchenko’s posters, invitation cards, and publications.

Young Gliders 1933

CARICATURE SHOWING OSIP BRIK, 1924

STEPS, 1930

Peter Kennard

John Heartfield

Similarities between Alexander Rodchenko, Peter Kennard and John Heartfield  

Works Cited 

Books and arts: Pictures and pain; alexander rodchenko. (2008, Feb 09). The Economist, 386, 99. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/223989917?accountid=27351