Jennifer Rice

ARH440 7J
Fall 2014
Dr. Heather McPherson

The Evolution of Photography

Photography has changed a great deal since its inception. Today we have
Instagram which was started in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, Photoshop
and most often used digital cameras of todays generation. However, all photography
evolved from the roots in the early 19th century. Although people have used cameras
since the Renaissance it was not until the 1820s, when Joseph Nicphore Nipce
performed the first photomechanical process. He was able to reproduce by engraving
using bitumen dissolved in lavender oil, which, when exposed to light became insoluble.
In 1827 he took the first semi-permanent photograph he called the process heliography.
The camera obscure which in Latin means dark room was used to project
images onto paper which allowed them to be traced. The problem with this was no one
was able to project a fixed image
a positive or negative appearance dependent on how the light hit it. The procesIn
the 1830s Louis Daguerre developed the daguerreotypes. This process involved
coating a plate of copper with silver nitrate which was then sensitive to nitrate, which
was sensitized to fumes of iodine fumes. Also in this process to light in camera
developed with mercury fumes, and fixed with hyposulphite of soda. The specimens
created making a copy of it. The polished silver coating was susceptible to tarnish they
were usually placed under glass hinged cases. They were very reflective and produced
s of exposure time was anywhere from five minutes to an half an hour sitting for

sometimes an unsuccessful process. This way of producing photography was popular

until the 1850. An example of this is the silver mirror which was created by Jean
Baptiste-Lois Grois.

1. The Salon of Baron Grois, 1850

Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gros
It has been said that Jean Baptiste-Louis Gros daguerreotypes were greatly admired
by his fellow photographers and continue to entrance viewers today with their startling
detail and iridescent surface
This photography by Gros exhibits exceptional mastery of the technical aspects
of the young medium was paired with a refined visual sensibility. The photograph is
thought to be revealing of Gros social standing, travel and talent.
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Various alternatives to the expensive and difficult Daguerreotype process were in

the 1840s and 50s. Fredrick Scott Archer developed the wet collodion process of
photography; Collodion was a mixture of gun cotton in alcohol and ether that was

sometimes applied to wounds as a liquid bandage. Collodion mixed with potassium

iodide and applied to glass that was dipped in silver nitrate provided a light-sensitive
surface that could be exposed developed in pyrogallic acid and fixed hypo. These
images appeared to be negative. These negatives were called ambrotypes.
Andr-Adolphe-Eugne Disdri introduced another process in 1854 Carte de
Viste which were actually small portraits. They were small portrait glued to a card
measuring around 4 inches high by 2 inches wide. I was made with four-lens camera
with sliding plate holder. They were printed from wet collodion negatives on albumen
paper. It made it possible to make multiple paintings. This was usually collected by
middle class family. The small portraits made it much easier to send through the mail
and for the first time made it easy for people to collect portraits and place in albums.
There were many popular printing processes Albumen Print which was created
by Louis Blanquart- Evrad to be used with collodion negatives. Albumen prints are a
variety of photographic paper print in which a finely divided silver and gold image is
dispersed in a matrix of egg white. Such prints constitute by far the largest category of
objects in 19th century photographic collections. Albumen paper became the most
widely used photographic printing material about 1855, and remained so until 1895.

2. Windmills, Montmarte 1839

Hippolyte Bayard
Another process that was used in the early 19 century was the Bayard technique
which was used in 1839. The Bayard technique was a direct-positive process. An
example of this is the photo Windmills, Montmartne by Bayard. The photograph
inscribed on the verso Essa de 1839 Avril Mai, is one of Bayard earliest Sawing in
Paris among photographic incunabula. Its chemical stains and slight discoloration only.
Which was enabled sensitive to paper that was lens of a camera obscure.
(http://www.metmuseum.org)
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3. String Beans 1851

LouisAdolphe Humbert de Molard
Another example of nineteenth century pictures which is also is an example of
duerreotype is String Beans 1851. Humbert de Moland was known to be a creative
chemist he would use the medium of duerreotype and experimented with paper and
photography. The painting showed a French wealthy Baron.
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4. Pierrot Laughing, 1855

Nadar
Photographers started to be me more expressive in their photographs with
meanings an example of this is Pierrot Laughing 1855. Pierrot is a base and thieving
knave, which was a modern free agent. The photograph appealed to the lower class.
Pierrot also was seen as a metaphor for creative artist.
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5. Woman Seen from the Back, 1862

Onsipe Aguado
Woman Seen from the Back, 1862 was a photograph made by Onsipe Aguado
this photograph was made by salted paper. The picture was also a fashionable plate.
The photo shows off jewelry and luxurious fabrics which indicate a woman of higher
rank. Her identity is not shown and really is of less importance to this piece. The true
meaning of this photograph is in the compelling sense of mystery.
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6. SaintMaclou, Rouen, 185254

Edmond Bacot
Salted paper print from glass negative was very popular which leaves another
example of this is SaintMaclou, Rouen, 1852 by Edmond Bacot. Edmond Bacult
traveled to photograph in strong sun- light and with long lens. He transformed the
flamboyant gothic faade of church of Saint-Malco patches of deep show and patterns.
It was from a romanticize view of medieval time and deeply colored.

7. Seated Nude in Studio, 1856

Franck Franois Gens Chauvassaignes
Seated Nude in Studio, 1856 by Franck Franois Gens Chauvassaignes was
a salted paper .Salted paper print from glass negative, his lack of distinguishing
fashions in furnishing on emphasizes simplicity of intention. The female nude in relaxed
attitude is an unsightly modified photograph.
Photography in nineteenth century made a huge impact with the press making it
an easier way to duplicate artistic portraits and it also made for faster printing time. This
significant invention was able to record historic events. Instead of painting a picture
photography was able to actually show the world as it truly was, although
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there was some fabrication done to the photographs. The process of

photography continues to evolve. Photography gives a permanent artistic record of an
event in time. It is also the window to social media sites and design.
Photography in the nineteenth century still referred to the setup of previous
paintings with the set ups as portraits. The photograph positioned a cropped picture to
paint a picture and paintings and positioning as wanted.

BIBLIOGRAHPY
http://albumen.conservation-us.org/library/c20/reilly1980.html
http://www.concordlibrary.org/scollect/Portrait_Exhibit/notes.html
http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/artists/1992/louis-desire-blanquart-evrardfrench-1802-1872/
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2010.23
http://www.photographymuseum.com/histsw.htm