American masters photo exhibit July 11 in Washington County Museum of Fine Arts

HAGERSTOWN, MD >> An exhibition of exceptional photographs from the collection of the Reading (Pa.) Public Museum is on loan to Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, which presents the exhibition "Masters of American Photography" July 11 through Oct. 25.

This exhibition represents 100 years of the history of photography from the 1880s through the 1980s, with emphasis on the first decades of the 20th century. It includes iconic images by some of the most important artists in the history of the medium, including Eadweard Muybridge, Alfred Stieglitz, Ansel Adams, Walker Evans, Berenice Abbott, Edward Weston, Dorothea Lange, Margaret Bourke-White, and Paul Strand.

Themes such as portraiture, landscape, still life, and cultural history dramatically illustrate America during this period. Many of the featured works are vintage prints made by the photographers very close to the time the negative was created. Some are later prints made by the photographers or their assistants.

Special programs

In conjunction with the exhibition, on Sept. 13 Robert Hein, professor of art at Frostburg State University, will present an illustrated lecture, "Modern American Photography," at 2:30 p.m, at the museum.

On the closing day of the exhibit (Oct. 25), John Graydon Smith, director of the Reading Public Museum, will speak at 2:30 p.m. in the exhibition gallery.

Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 9 to 4 Saturdays; and 1 to 5 Sundays. Admission to the museum and adjacent parking is free.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Masters of American Photography

WHEN: July 11-Oct. 25

WHERE: Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, 401 Museum Drive, Hagerstown, Md.

DETAILS: 301-739-5727 or www.wcmfa.org