GETTY CENTER | NINETEENTH CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHY NOW
Hippolyte Bayard (French, 1801 - 1887)
Cyanotype
Image: 13.8 × 11.1 cm (5 7/16 × 4 3/8 in.) 84.XO.968.2
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Written By: Lauren Levesque
The Getty Center is showing The Nineteenth Century Photography Now exhibition, a fascinating exploration of the connection between 19th-century photography and modern techniques. This is not just a display of historical artifacts but a journey that connects the past with the present, showing how photography's early tones and styles are still prevalent today. Moreover, the exhibition features 19th-century photographers through the eyes of 21st-century artists, offering a unique artistic interpretation. We invite you to explore how these techniques have shaped our modern world. The exhibition will be displayed from April 9th to July 7th, 2024.
Gustave Le Gray (French, 1820 - 1884)
An Effect of Sunlight—Ocean No. 23, 1857-58,
Albumen silver prints from glass negatives
Image: 32.1 × 41.8 cm (12 5/8 × 16 7/16 in.); Mount: 55.6 × 70.3 cm (21 7/8 × 27 11/16 in.)
84.XM.347.10
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
The beauty that Gray was able to capture with light in An Effect of Sunlight is truly mesmerizing. The warmth of the sky reflecting in the ocean's center evokes a sense of the afterlife, inviting the viewer to contemplate the time of day this scene was captured and the artist's intention. It also prompts the viewer to consider the manipulation of light based on morning and evening settings, a technique that continues to shape modern photography.
Stéphanie Solinas (French, born 1978)
Untitled (M. Bertillon) no.12, 2013, printed 2023
Gelatin silver print and digital sound files in French and English 18 × 26 cm (7 1/16 × 10 1/4 in.)
2023.54.12
© Stéphanie Solinas
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Purchased with funds provided by the Photographs Council
Solinas can capture the thick beam of light shining down from the sky, which has a stunning effect. The beauty of European architecture as the backdrop for the light tower to encapsulate the center image allows for raw techniques that future artists would learn to be able to understand how light impacts film. Her shot Untitled (M. Bertillon) gives the impression of an altered universe.
William Henry Fox Talbot (English, 1800 - 1877)
Stem of Delicate Leaves of an Umbrellifer, Probably 1843-6
Photogenic drawing negative
Image: 18.1 × 22.1 cm (7 1/8 × 8 11/16 in.) 84.XM.1002.57
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Talbot's mastery is palpable in his creation of a unique and unforgettable image in Stem of Delicate Leaves of an Umbrellifer. The captured texture almost feels tangible, adding a three-dimensional depth to the image. The stark white color further accentuates the simplicity of the natural world, a testament to Talbot's exceptional skill and visionary approach to photography.
