Photography and Photographers in Britain 1839-2012

Investigate the work of British photographers from the nineteenth century to the present and discuss key ideas and questions shaping the history of photography as a medium for creative expression. Tuesdays, 17 April – 12 June 2012 (Bank holiday: 5 June 2012), 18.30–20.30

Examine the different contexts in which individual photographers worked and discuss their approach to the medium, legacy and influence. Study the invention and reception of British photography, its varying uses from fine art to photojournalism, and its relationship to major art movements. Look at original prints in the V&A collection and learn how to recognise their various types. Consider how photography can be appreciated, collected and displayed, from the magazine page to the gallery wall. Discuss how popular themes such as family photography, fashion, architecture, still life, staged photography and landscape have evolved in the work of key photographers, including Julia Margaret Cameron, Lady Clementina Hawarden, Bill Brandt, Cecil Beaton and David Bailey.

To book using a special discount offer, please call the Bookings Office on 020 7942 2211