Art Blog #196

Recent inventions that changed Western Art - The camera and subsequent photograph (1826)

View from the Window at Le Gras (1826), the earliest surviving photograph - Wikipedia

The first permanent photograph of a camera image was created in 1826 by Nicéphore Niépce using a sliding wooden box camera crafted by Charles and Vincent Chevalier in Paris.

   Since 1816, Niépce had been exploring methods to fix images from a camera obscura. The photograph he successfully produced captures the view from his window. It was achieved with an 8-hour exposure on pewter coated with bitumen.

Niépce named his technique "heliography".

 

He corresponded with the inventor Louis Daguerre, and together they formed a partnership to enhance the heliographic process. Niépce continued experimenting with various chemicals to improve the contrast in his heliographs.

The Giroux daguerreotype camera made by Maison Susse Frères in 1839, with a lens by Charles Chevalier, the first to be commercially produced - Wikipedia

Below are some of the most notable milestones in the evolution of the camera

• 400 BCE: Mozi, a Chinese philosopher, explains the camera obscura phenomenon, which is a precursor to photography.

  
  

• 1614: Angelo Sala observes the effect of powdered silver nitrate on sunlight, hinting at the potential for photography.

  
  

• 1717: Johann Heinrich Schulze creates temporary sun prints using a mixture of chalk and silver nitrate.

  
  

• 1800: Thomas Wedgwood envisions creating lasting images from camera projections on a surface treated with a light-sensitive chemical.

  
  

• 1826: Niépce captures the first durable, light-resistant camera photograph, requiring an exposure of at least eight hours.

  
  

• 1839: Louis Daguerre unveils the daguerreotype process, creating highly detailed permanent images on silver-plated copper sheets.

  
  

• 1850s: The collodion process merges the high quality of the daguerreotype with the multiple print capabilities of the calotype.

  
  

• 1900: Kodak launches roll film photography, making cameras accessible to the general public.

  
  

• 1980s: Consumer camcorders become widely available, marking a transition from still photography to video.

  
  

• 1990s: The advent of digital cameras and smartphones transforms photography with their portability and convenience.

  
  

  
  

Edgar Degas, Seated Nude, 1895, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Paul writes:

The reason I have included a still photograph by the artist Edgard Degas from 1895 is that the camera had an enormous impact on Western art, particularly through the lens of Impressionism. This movement marked a significant departure from traditional artistic techniques and perspectives, embracing a more spontaneous and immediate representation of the world. Edgar Degas, renowned for his contributions to Impressionist art, is particularly notable for his innovative approach, which seamlessly blended classical techniques with modern themes.

Degas was not only a painter but also a skilled photographer, and his dual expertise allowed him to explore the nuances of light, movement, and composition in ways that were revolutionary for his time. His fascination with photography influenced his artistic practice, leading him to capture fleeting moments and the essence of human experience in a manner that was both intimate and dynamic.

Art Blog courtesy of www.connorcontemporary.com