John Szarkowski (1925–2007) was an American photographer, curator, historian, and critic whose work fundamentally transformed the study and institutional recognition of photography as a fine art. Through his influential writings, exhibitions, and curatorial leadership at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, Szarkowski redefined photographic criticism and established a new framework for understanding the medium's artistic and documentary potential. By 1995, he was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of photography, having shaped both museum practice and photographic scholarship for more than three decades.
Photography Until Now (1989) is one of John Szarkowski's most influential books and a landmark in the historiography of photography. Published by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to accompany the exhibition of the same name, the book was created to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the invention of photography and the fiftieth anniversary of MoMA's Department of Photography. Rather than simply updating earlier histories of the medium, Szarkowski proposed a new interpretation of photography's development, emphasizing the relationship between technological innovation and artistic vision.