In the early history of photography, many examples of art photography tried to establish the new medium as a fine art by often imitating which feature of traditional painting?

Introduction / Context:
When photography first emerged in the nineteenth century, artists and critics debated whether it could be considered a fine art like painting or sculpture. Some early art photographers responded by consciously borrowing ideas from established art forms. Exam questions about early photography often ask what exactly they imitated in order to claim artistic status. This question focuses on which feature of traditional painting art photographers tried to echo.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are discussing early art photography, not casual snapshots.
• The goal was to make photography appear as a serious art form.
• The options mention brush strokes, specific masterpieces, narrative form and later collage techniques.

Concept / Approach:
Many early art photographers used staged scenes, carefully arranged figures and dramatic lighting to create images that resembled history or genre paintings. These compositions told stories or conveyed moral lessons, similar to traditional narrative painting. Photographers did not try to mimic brush strokes, which are unique to painting, nor did they base their art mainly on Dada collage, which arrived much later. Therefore, the correct answer should highlight the narrative and story telling aspects of painting rather than its physical surface or individual famous works.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that early art photographers often constructed scenes using models, costumes and props. Step 2: Understand that these scenes attempted to tell stories or illustrate literary, historical or religious themes, in the same way as academic painting. Step 3: Note that a photograph cannot literally reproduce brush strokes because it is a different medium. Step 4: Recognise that the Dada movement and its collages belong to a later avant garde period and did not guide early attempts to legitimise photography. Step 5: Choose option C, which mentions the narrative form and story telling composition of traditional painting.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of well known early photographers who made images resembling history or allegorical paintings. They frequently staged scenes from literature or mythology, often giving titles that refer to classic stories. Art history texts describe this as an attempt to align photography with the respected tradition of narrative painting. This confirms that narrative form, rather than painterly texture or collage, is the main feature that early art photography imitated.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is wrong because photographers did not try to imitate the physical brushwork of oil painting, which is specific to painting materials. Option B focuses too narrowly on copying particular masterpieces instead of the broader narrative tradition. Option D is incorrect because Dada collages such as those by Hannah Hoch belong to a later rebellion against traditional art, not to the early phase of photography. Option E is wrong because early art photographers were in fact very conscious of the relationship between photography and painting and did refer to painting models.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes think that art photography must have tried to look exactly like painting in every way and therefore choose options about brush strokes or specific famous works. Others associate any mention of photography and collage with Dada, ignoring the time period. To avoid confusion, focus on the idea of narrative and theatrical composition, which is the key link between early art photography and painting.

Final Answer:
Early examples of art photography often imitated the narrative form and story telling compositions of history and genre painting in order to establish photography as a fine art.