LINKED RING

association of English photographers formed in 1892, one of the first groups to promote the idea that photography is an art. Henry Peach Robinson (q.v.) was notable among the founding members. The Linked Ring called its annual exhibitions salons, a name that was borrowed from the world of painting and demonstrated its artistic motivation. The members of the group refused to exhibit photographs that, in their judgment, failed to further the development of the highest form of art of which photography is capable. They also made innovations in the display of photographs. Instead of crowding photographs onto a wall from ceiling to floor, as was usually done, the Linked Ring photographers displayed their work at eye level, and their galleries were decorated with flowers and pastel designs drawn on the walls and occasionally on the frames. This self-consciously artistic attitude was subsequently adopted by European groups, such as the Photo-Club de Paris. In America, the Photo-Secession Group (q.v.) promulgated similar ideas.