NEW YORK, NY.- The phrase ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ has something of a checkered history, with some early commentators claiming it was of noble Japanese or Chinese origin. As it happens, research suggests it was first used in the USA in the early part of the 20th century and certainly it is widely attributed to the author Frederick R. Barnard who wrote an article in Printers’ Ink (December 1921) entitled “One Look is Worth a Thousand Words.” Similar phrases date from a decade earlier, however they all mean that the story told by a picture can convey as much meaning as a long, descriptive passage of text.

Of course, lovers of painting and photography have long been aware of this fact, as indeed have advertisers down the years. Gradually, iconic photos in particular have developed a new lease of life, going far beyond advertising brand images. Already photographs are regularly used as subjects for trendy posters and casual clothing (think T-shirts, jackets and baseball caps) as well as jigsaws, quaint trinkets and souvenirs. Beyond this, some exciting developments include the emergence of iconic photos as the artworks of tomorrow. Here are a few examples to whet the appetite.

Portraying human romance
There’s no doubt that French sculptor Auguste Rodin created one of his masterpiece marble sculptures when he completed The Kiss in 1889, and it’s still one of the most recognizable and popular exhibits of all those on display at the Rodin Museum in Paris, France [http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en/collections/sculptures/kiss].

Then Austrian painter Gustave Klimt presented the world with the oil painting of the same name (Der Kluss in German) in 1908, said to be one of the high points of his ‘Golden Period’ and currently on display in Vienna at the Belvedere Palace. Andy Warhol’s film Kiss was essentially a critical commentary on The Hays Code, which was designed in 1930 to protect the morals of the American people when they were watching motion pictures. An onscreen kiss could last up to but not exceeding three seconds, so Warhol strung together a series of kisses to make a film lasting 50 minutes in total [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/592022/].

For many Americans, however, The Kiss refers principally to the wonderful photograph taken in Times Square on V-J Day in 1945. Photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt was a German immigrant and successfully captured America’s exhilaration when the Second World War finally ended. As much as sculpture, film and painting, this is one of those many significant images that signals photography coming into its own as a bona fide art form.

Browse through any stock photos on sites such as Dreamstime for examples of the power of the lens, and of the striking stories it can tell.

Serious images
As photography developed and became more advanced, so increasingly photographers supplanted war artists and the result was some of the most outstanding and memorable photos of conflict and its effects around the world. These photos are invaluable for documentary purposes and of historical interest to all generations, particularly young people. The most iconic are intrinsically powerful, taking viewers to distant lands and other times and frequently communicating danger, despair and human suffering.

From the napalm-scarred little girl in Vietnam (1972; AP/Nick Ut) to the migrant mother Florence Owens Thompson during the Great Depression (Dorothea Lange), iconic photographs have indeed accomplished what Barnard claimed – each one is worth a thousand words. The photo of Nelson Mandela walking free after 27 years in prison (1990; AP) lifted the heart of the whole world.

When painters depicted Christian martyrs throughout the centuries and events such as the suffering on the cross, mostly they read or listened to the stories at the time and imagined the scenes. Photography however is more immediate, more accurate and perhaps because of this more compelling.

Image reproduction
Fans of paintings and sculpture often gather images of their favorite item – not always by capturing it for themselves on camera but often by buying a high quality photographic reproduction in the form of a poster or postcard. The more traditional, classical artworks are therefore living on through the medium of the photograph aided by advanced printing processes. Nowadays photos are shared in myriad ways – anyone can upload pictures from smartphones, tablets and laptops and post them on social media sites. The fashion for taking good-natured selfies and promoting fun photobombing has brought photography to all ages and nations.

While maybe paper photograph albums are becoming outdated, technology has devised new ways to display electronic images. Digital photo frames allow favorite photos to be reproduced and displayed on screen, offering a high-quality crisp finish, especially when it comes to color. They are generally user-friendly and many let viewers watch video as well as look at photos. The modern household is just as likely to display family photos as wall art and to use one or more digital frames as virtual photo albums.

Professional expertise
Aspiring amateur photographers often study the work of professionals to get a handle on the techniques that are used to create that once-in-a-lifetime picture. Online resources for viewing photographs are easy to use as it takes time and money to visit some of the best photographic establishments in person, such as the International Center of Photography (ICP) in Manhattan, New York City [http://www.icp.org/]. Photographic galleries have also made an important contribution to the establishment of photography as an important art form. Work by some of the best up and coming photographers, as well as by established names can be seen at NYC venues such as the Aperture, Bonni Benrubi and Danziger galleries (Chelsea); Howard Greenberg and Pace/MacGill galleries (Midtown East); and the International Center of Photography (Midtown West).

When it comes to taking the perfect photograph – one that will get noticed – there is likely no one-size-fits-all solution for success. Perhaps that’s not really relevant as the founder of ICP, Cornell Capa says: “Photography is demonstrably the most contemporary of art forms. It is the most vital, effective and universal means of communication of facts and ideas between peoples and nations.”