Why did gum-bichromate printing give Edward Steichen more control over an image?

Edward Steichen utilized the gum-bichromate process as part of his Pictorialist practice to help establish photography as a fine art. This printing method provided him with a high degree of control over the final image because it allowed for significant manual intervention during the development process.

By employing gum-bichromate—often in conjunction with platinum or iron-based emulsions—Steichen could manipulate the print's tonality and texture. This flexibility enabled him to move beyond mere documentation and instead emulate the mood, manner, and aesthetic qualities of traditional artistic media, such as mezzotints and wash drawings. Furthermore, these specialized printing techniques ensured that each individual print could be differentiated from others produced from the same negative, reinforcing the photographer's role as an artist capable of personal expression.12