Seduced by Art: Photography Past and Present

Today’s photography is part of our own cultural moment, but it also arises from artistic traditions that long predate it. ‘Seduced by Art: Photography Past and Present’ is an engaging discussion of historical influences on both early photography of the mid-19th century and contemporary photography.

This ground-breaking exhibition brings together exceptional examples of early and contemporary photography. Works will include those by leading photographers – including Tom Hunter, Thomas Struth, Craigie Horsfield, Sam Taylor-Wood and Beate Gütschow – who trace their sources back to 19th-century photography or, in some cases, even older art historical traditions.

Across 150 years, old and new controversies are part of this story. The exhibition explores the dialogue between the history of art, the art of the 19th century and modern photographers. It also maps the development of photography as it evolved from the 19th century to reassess traditional subjects such as still life, landscape and social portraiture.

The exhibition includes works from the Wilson Centre for Photography and loans from Tate, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Media Museum in Bradford and directly from the artists themselves.