During the 1920s, photographer Alfred Stieglitz began moving away from the soft-focus, painterly style that had dominated art photography. While...
GMAT Craft and Structure : (Structure) Questions
During the 1920s, photographer Alfred Stieglitz began moving away from the soft-focus, painterly style that had dominated art photography. While Pictorialism had sought to elevate photography by mimicking traditional painting techniques, Stieglitz now embraced sharp focus and pure photographic qualities. This shift reflected his belief that photography should establish its own distinct aesthetic identity. His later work, characterized by precise detail and unmanipulated imagery, helped define what became known as 'straight photography.'
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the text?
The text describes Stieglitz's early training in Pictorialism and then explains how he influenced other photographers of his era.
The text contrasts two photographic approaches and then traces how Stieglitz moved from one to the other.
The text presents Stieglitz's critique of traditional painting and then provides examples of his innovative techniques.
The text explains the development of straight photography and then demonstrates its superiority to earlier methods.
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'During the 1920s, photographer Alfred Stieglitz began moving away from the soft-focus, painterly style that had dominated art photography.' |
|
| 'While Pictorialism had sought to elevate photography by mimicking traditional painting techniques, Stieglitz now embraced sharp focus and pure photographic qualities.' |
|
| 'This shift reflected his belief that photography should establish its own distinct aesthetic identity.' |
|
| 'His later work, characterized by precise detail and unmanipulated imagery, helped define what became known as 'straight photography.'' |
|
Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Alfred Stieglitz moved away from Pictorialism's painting-like approach to develop a sharp-focus style that helped establish straight photography as its own distinct art form.
Argument Flow: The passage begins by establishing Stieglitz's departure from the dominant soft-focus style. It then contrasts the old Pictorialist approach with his new sharp-focus method, explains his philosophical reasoning for this change, and concludes by showing how his later work helped define a new photographic movement.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
What's being asked? The overall structure of the text - how the passage is organized and flows from beginning to end.
What type of answer do we need? A description that captures the passage's organizational pattern - how ideas are arranged and connected.
Any limiting keywords? [content]
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- Looking at our analysis, this passage presents two different photographic approaches and shows how Stieglitz moved from following the first approach to developing the second one
- The passage traces this transition from one style to another
The text describes Stieglitz's early training in Pictorialism and then explains how he influenced other photographers of his era.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims the text describes Stieglitz's early training and influence on others - but we never learn about his training or his influence on other photographers
The text contrasts two photographic approaches and then traces how Stieglitz moved from one to the other.
✓ Correct
- Accurately captures that the text contrasts two photographic approaches and traces how Stieglitz moved from one to the other
The text presents Stieglitz's critique of traditional painting and then provides examples of his innovative techniques.
✗ Incorrect
- Claims Stieglitz presents a critique of traditional painting - but he's moving away from photography that mimics painting, not critiquing painting itself
The text explains the development of straight photography and then demonstrates its superiority to earlier methods.
✗ Incorrect
- Says the text explains the development of straight photography first - but the passage starts with Stieglitz's movement away from Pictorialism