In 1903, after he had broken away from Camera Notes because of its increasing conservatism, Alfred Stieglitz set about publication of the photography journal Camera Work. His new journal celebrated American and European pictorialist photographers; its stated intention was to "appeal to the ever-increasing ranks of those who have faith in photography as a medium of individual expression, and, in addition, to make converts of many at present ignorant of its possibilities." At first, only photography selected for "individuality and artistic worth" was published. After 1908 the journal invited critical essays from such respected authors as George Bernard Shaw and Gertrude Stein, reproduced works by Pablo Picasso and Auguste Rodin, and provided retrospectives on early photographic pioneers.

Camera Work not only produced quality artwork, but was a work of art in itself. Beautifully rendered halftone prints and photogravures and carefully integrated typeface and initial letters, along...