In her review of Andy Grundberg’s new book, How Photography Became Contemporary Art, Jackie Wullschlaeger describes how he tells the story of the recent “remarkable rise of photography from the margin of art to its vital center.” She notes that “in his “pilgrim’s tale,” photography is a lone bold character setting out to carve a role beyond its obvious documentary function. It tries to imitate established media […] before finding its independent voice. Claiming acceptance on its own terms, photography is so successful that it revolutionizes the entire concept of what art can be.” She adds that “if color [photography] tends to fix images in time and space, black and white is nostalgic, mysterious, yet timeless, probably because of the strong formal qualities.”
Jackie Wullschlaeger, Financial Times, February 17, 2021.