Probably the most lyrical and emotional of the German Expressionists, Kathe Kollwitz explored the austere themes of suffering and death in her poignant prints and compelling sculptures. Born to parents with strong Socialist beliefs, Kollwitz later married a doctor but settled in one of the poorest

Dark, Death, Dense, Dramatic, Feminist, German expressionism, Gritty, Self-reflection

The unwavering, demented gaze of a stray dog captures the detached observation that characterizes the raw, unsettling work of photographer Daido Moriyama. The dog is caught in strong shadows against a high-contrast background, highlighting its whitened eyes and its angular, rangy pose. "Stray Dog," M

Documentary photography, Dramatic, Gritty, Moody, Tense

One of the early experimenters with the telephoto lens, Penn perceived photography as a distillation of reality, rather than an elaboration upon it. He achieved deliberately structured compositions by borrowing from the natural northern lighting of traditional European painters. His first cover f

Documentary photography, Dramatic, Elegant, Fashion photography, Social realism, Sophisticated

"Have mercy on me," said Henry Kissinger as he was about to be photographed by Richard Avedon. Avedon was known for his ability to lay bare the souls of his subjects, often photographing them against totally white or otherwise stark backgrounds. At one time, Avedon was the highest paid fashion an

Documentary photography, Dramatic, Elegant, Eroticism , Fashion photography, Gritty, Intimate, Severe, Spare