Paul Strand

Paul Strand (American, 1890–1976) was a pioneering photographer whose work bridged art and politics, formalism and social realism. Emerging from the modernist movement in the early 20th century, Strand helped define photography as a fine art through sharply composed images of everyday objects, urban scenes, and later, portraits and landscapes around the world. Deeply engaged with ideas of truth and structure, he developed a visual language that was both precise and deeply humane. From New York streets to rural Mexico and postwar Europe, Strand’s work remains a touchstone for documentary and artistic photography alike.