Nineteenth Century Origins of Photography

Nineteenth Century Origins of Photography
(1826 - 1900)


INTRODUCTION
Photography or ‘drawing with light’ is a uniquely nineteenth century combination of art and science. The process was born out of a synthesis of physics and chemistry and presented to the art world, which received it with considerable misgivings. Photography attracted an extraordinary mixture of chemists and painters, sharp businessmen and dreamy romantics -colourful characters from all ranks of Victorian life. This article traces the early history of photography from the first permanent camera images of the 1820s until the turn of the century. It shows the steady technical improvements and the way these affected the aesthetic and social uses of the new medium. Wherever possible the actual original photographs are reproduced to convey their intrinsic qualities as well as content.

This article is intended for students of 15 years and upwards. It includes topics of interest to groups studying Art, S...