DOI issue:
No. 32 (November, 1895)
DOI article:The photographic salon
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17295#0129
The Photographic Salon
press aroused a feeling of antagonism and hostility Henneberg's very fine landscapes, M. Demachy's
to its claims to be something more than the out- figure subjects, and Mr. Craig Annan's large por-
corae of a merely mechanical system, and protests traits which formed such an attractive feature at
were more loudly and frequently made than the end of the gallery. It is, of course, a matter
hitherto. The predominance, and in some cases of interest mainly to photographers, but, besides
pre-eminence of the foreign exhibitors, and the those to which reference has just been made, the
attempt, boldly made for lamplight effects by M. Puyo
the first time, to present the __________..............._______, ._ were no doubt generally sup-
nude in photography were posed to have been printed
other things to be remarked, by some ordinarily practised
and, finally, a method of printing method. They were,
printing in pigments which however, upon a pigmented
is certain to have a great in- paper similar to that which
fluence upon the future of Hr ' M. Demachy prepares and
pictorial photography was uses himself. It is a paper
illustrated by examples, J&MfeBH| known as Artigue's papier
which in the present early velours, and possesses quali-
stage of the method may ties of very great value which
truly be called admirable are not to be found in other
and full of promise. An printing papers. Little
article in The Studio some known at present, it is cer-
two years ago described this tain before long to become
system of the direct applica- more prominent,
tion of pigments to paper, The discussions which
fixed there by the action of have lately taken place re-
light and the personal con- garding the position amongst
trol which the artist has in the arts which is supposed
his hands. No one has to be claimed by the pic-
practised this method more torial photographer would
successfully than M. De- appear to be particularly
machy. But the criticisms I jfilL futile. They are character-
which these results aroused ised upon the one side by
showed how difficult it is to ™ an almost entire ignorance
free our minds from pre- of his aims and methods—
conceived notions of what ignorance which may be said
constitutes a photograph. to be invincible—and by an
Pictures such as these in- inveterate determination to
evitably lead us to consider judge the system by the
them as we consider those practice and results obtained
produced by any other gra- in years long gone by. The
phic methods, and would arguments often used are in
appear to justify the perhaps the direction of assaulting
somewhat bold assertion in positions which have never
the " Forewords " to the been occupied or defended
catalogue that chemistry, by those who claim that
n v • i PORTRAIT STUDY BY J. CRAIG ANNAN . , i , i
optics and mechanism have pictorial photography is not
become of secondary im- a simple mechanical process,
portance, and that a knowledge of them is very But the stigma remains, and it is to the continu-
little necessary indeed. It may be interesting to ance of exhibitions such as that of the Salon that
note here that whereas, until recently, it was a we must look for its removal. It is generally
matter of no difficulty to determine what kind assumed that none of the men who exhibit here
of printing method was used, at this year's ex- as photographers can also be capable painters,
hibition it was often by no means so easy. It etchers, or draughtsmen, and the newspaper art
will suffice to mention in this respect Dr. Hugo critic, whether or no he may have any practical
116
press aroused a feeling of antagonism and hostility Henneberg's very fine landscapes, M. Demachy's
to its claims to be something more than the out- figure subjects, and Mr. Craig Annan's large por-
corae of a merely mechanical system, and protests traits which formed such an attractive feature at
were more loudly and frequently made than the end of the gallery. It is, of course, a matter
hitherto. The predominance, and in some cases of interest mainly to photographers, but, besides
pre-eminence of the foreign exhibitors, and the those to which reference has just been made, the
attempt, boldly made for lamplight effects by M. Puyo
the first time, to present the __________..............._______, ._ were no doubt generally sup-
nude in photography were posed to have been printed
other things to be remarked, by some ordinarily practised
and, finally, a method of printing method. They were,
printing in pigments which however, upon a pigmented
is certain to have a great in- paper similar to that which
fluence upon the future of Hr ' M. Demachy prepares and
pictorial photography was uses himself. It is a paper
illustrated by examples, J&MfeBH| known as Artigue's papier
which in the present early velours, and possesses quali-
stage of the method may ties of very great value which
truly be called admirable are not to be found in other
and full of promise. An printing papers. Little
article in The Studio some known at present, it is cer-
two years ago described this tain before long to become
system of the direct applica- more prominent,
tion of pigments to paper, The discussions which
fixed there by the action of have lately taken place re-
light and the personal con- garding the position amongst
trol which the artist has in the arts which is supposed
his hands. No one has to be claimed by the pic-
practised this method more torial photographer would
successfully than M. De- appear to be particularly
machy. But the criticisms I jfilL futile. They are character-
which these results aroused ised upon the one side by
showed how difficult it is to ™ an almost entire ignorance
free our minds from pre- of his aims and methods—
conceived notions of what ignorance which may be said
constitutes a photograph. to be invincible—and by an
Pictures such as these in- inveterate determination to
evitably lead us to consider judge the system by the
them as we consider those practice and results obtained
produced by any other gra- in years long gone by. The
phic methods, and would arguments often used are in
appear to justify the perhaps the direction of assaulting
somewhat bold assertion in positions which have never
the " Forewords " to the been occupied or defended
catalogue that chemistry, by those who claim that
n v • i PORTRAIT STUDY BY J. CRAIG ANNAN . , i , i
optics and mechanism have pictorial photography is not
become of secondary im- a simple mechanical process,
portance, and that a knowledge of them is very But the stigma remains, and it is to the continu-
little necessary indeed. It may be interesting to ance of exhibitions such as that of the Salon that
note here that whereas, until recently, it was a we must look for its removal. It is generally
matter of no difficulty to determine what kind assumed that none of the men who exhibit here
of printing method was used, at this year's ex- as photographers can also be capable painters,
hibition it was often by no means so easy. It etchers, or draughtsmen, and the newspaper art
will suffice to mention in this respect Dr. Hugo critic, whether or no he may have any practical
116