The history of photography began nearly 200 years ago, but only relatively recently has it been fully recognized as a medium in its own right. Cologne’s Museum Ludwig was the first museum of contemporary art to devote a substantial section to international photography . The L. Fritz Gruber collection, from which this book is drawn, is one of the most important in Germany and one of the most representative anywhere in the world , constituting the core of the museum’s holdings. This book provides a fascinating insight into the collection’s rich diversity; from conceptual art to abstraction to reportage , all of the major movements and genres are represented via a vast selection of the 20th century’s most remarkable photographs . From Ansel Adams to Piet Zwart, over 850 works are presented in alphabetical order by photographer, with descriptive texts and photographers’ biographical details, providing a comprehensive and indispensable overview of 20th-century photography .