The purpose of adding famous artists and their works during the time period prior to and during the onset of photography postcards, is because most of the major museum cards were produced originally as advertisements for their upcoming shows and of course, they wanted to promote their finest works of art.

This is a reference guide of the major artists of the period and the art movements that most directly influenced the world during the early formative years of photography and those closest to the postcard images we currently call "vintage".