H.H. Bennett, Photographer

A chance encounter by a young John Szarkowski (eventually curator of photography at the Museum of Modern Art) with Bennett's early work would result in his eventual retroactive inclusion in the developing study of American photographers. Bennett captured the vision of his locality, contributed to the advance of photographic technique, and promoted photography as a public relations tool. The period of his activity, the late 19th century, was one of enormous growth in the social and cultural interests of the nation. Bennett's panoramic images allowed one to view the landscape from a single point and still encompass the grand scale of the image. As the face of the Midwest changed, so did the work of this distinctive artist; in his full panoply one can see both the enduring beauty of his world and the faces of those who lived in it. Throughout a lifetime of difficulties, personal and financial, Bennett never failed to observe the wonders of life and to record them for all to see for years to come.