Work:
Steichen studied art, he was introduced to Stieglitz through the photographer Clarence White. In the early 1900s Steichen made many visits to Europe and he became the artistic adviser to the Photo-Secessionist movement and was a catalyst in the movements development. He strongly believed in the creative potential of photography and its ability to convey expressive messages. In 1947 he was appointed the director of the Department of Photography at the New York Museum of Modern Art. He was responsible for the organising of the seminal exhibition The Family of Man in 1955. Which was one of the most successful exhibitions in history breaking all attendance records. He was seen as a master of the gum bichromate printing system (applying a coat of gum arabic, pigment and potassium bichromate to the paper which then has a negative placed on top and is then exposed to light and developed in water.) The gum bichromate process creates a painterly effect with soft grainy and sometimes uneven finish often with the presence of the brushstroke. Seen as a patron of young photographers especially with his work for Camera Work and at Stieglitz's 291 gallery.
Worked in most genres of photography.