An international movement in photography, strongest from about the 1880s to the 1910s. Pictorialists wanted photography to be accepted as a fine art, like painting. They often used soft focus, careful composition and moody light. Many were influenced by painting styles such as Tonalism and Impressionism.
They also worked by hand on their prints. They used processes such as gum bichromate, platinum and bromoil, which allowed brushwork and control over tone. Important groups were the Linked Ring in Britain and the Photo-Secession in the United States. Later, photographers turned to sharp, direct images, and the movement faded.
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