Beaumont Newhall was a prominent figure in the world of photography, known for his contributions as a photographer, art historian, curator, and writer. He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1908 and went on to study at Harvard University, where he developed an interest in photography. He later pursued his graduate studies at the New York University Institute of Fine Arts, where he focused on the history of art. Newhall's interest in photography led him to become an influential figure in the field, working to establish it as a legitimate art form. He held teaching positions at several universities, including the University of Michigan, the University of Rochester, and the University of Nebraska. He also served as a curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York for over four decades, where he organized numerous exhibitions of photography, including works by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alfred Stieglitz, and Ansel Adams. Newhall was also a prolific writer, publishing several books on the history and theory of photography. His most famous work, The History of Photography, is considered a classic reference in the field and has been widely used as a textbook. He also wrote Photography: Essays & Images, which is a collection of essays on the art and history of photography. In addition to his work in photography, Newhall was also instrumental in the establishment of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which he founded and served as its director for two years. He was also a talented photographer in his own right, known for his series of photographs of Yosemite National Park, which he captured between 1932 and 1940. Overall, Beaumont Newhall was a multifaceted and influential figure in the world of photography, whose contributions helped to establish it as a respected art form. His work as a curator, writer, and photographer left a lasting impact on the field, and his legacy continues to be felt today.
Beaumont Newhall, photography, art historian, curator, writer, Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Yosemite National Park
Beaumont Newhall was an American photographer and art historian who helped to establish photography as an art form. He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1908 and studied at Harvard and at the New York University Institute of Fine Arts. He also held teaching positions at the universities of Michigan, Rochester, and Nebraska. During his career, he published several books, including The History of Photography and Photography: Essays & Images, both of which remain classic reference works today. He was a curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York for over forty years and was instrumental in organizing exhibitions of works by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alfred Stieglitz, and Ansel Adams. He also founded the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and served as its director for two years. His most famous work was a series of photographs of Yosemite National Park, spanning from 1932-1940.
Beaumont Newhall, American photographer, art historian, curator, educator, Yosemite National Park, Museum of Modern Art.
— Mei Wang
CITATION : "Mei Wang. 'Beaumont Newhall.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=206614 (Accessed on August 02, 2025)"
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