In the early 1900s, there was a growing interest in art photography and photographers concentrated on the medium's expressive qualities to demonstrate that even a mechanical process could produce artistic images. To prove their point, they created images that imitated an established art form, painting. The style of photography they advocated came to be called Pictorialism. Pictorialism called for soft focus images that evoked a feeling or mood. In the United States this movement was led by Alfred Stieglitz.

photographs which are a picturesque, decorative art in their own right and appeal to the viewers sense of beauty.