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The Photographic Vision of John O. Bowman (1884–1977), “The Undisputed Box-Camera Champion of the Universe”

Landrigan, Katie Esther
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1179276007

Abstract Details

2007, MA, University of Cincinnati, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Art History.
In 1936, John Oliver Bowman (1884-1977) purchased his first box camera with seventy-five cents and six coffee coupons. In his hometown of Jamestown, New York, located in the Chautauqua Lake Region, Bowman spent his free time photographing a wide range of subjects, including farmers plowing the fields or the sun setting over Chautauqua Lake from the 1930s until the end of his life. He displayed a Pictorialist sensibility in his photographs of small town living and received worldwide recognition with a solo exhibition of ninety-nine prints at the New York World's Fair of 1939-1940, as well as nationwide praise in the popular press. Within forty years, Bowman produced an estimated 8,000 gelatin silver prints. This thesis marks the first in-depth, scholarly study of Bowman's life and work. I describe the path that Bowman took to become a photographer and explore the influence that Chautauqua County's artistic community had on his vision. Next, I analyze photographs that are representative of Bowman's body of work. His images provide evidence that he was influenced by Pictorialism as well as straight, modern photography. Lastly, I examine a sample of Bowman's prints that were exhibited at the New York World's Fair and discuss the impact that this international exposure had on his photographic career. I argue that Bowman made a significant contribution to the history of twentieth-century photography through his pictorial depictions of the natural landscape and rural life.
Dr. Theresa Leininger-Miller (Advisor)
107 p.
Art History

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Landrigan, K. E. (2007). The Photographic Vision of John O. Bowman (1884–1977), “The Undisputed Box-Camera Champion of the Universe” [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1179276007

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Landrigan, Katie. The Photographic Vision of John O. Bowman (1884–1977), “The Undisputed Box-Camera Champion of the Universe”. 2007. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1179276007.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Landrigan, Katie. "The Photographic Vision of John O. Bowman (1884–1977), “The Undisputed Box-Camera Champion of the Universe”." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1179276007

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1179276007
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© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.