Photomechanical printing in Europe in the mid-19th century: History, theory, visual culture, science and the international network in the 1840s-1860s

Descripción del proyecto

Reproducción en serie de fotografías a mediados del siglo XIX

PHOTOMECHANICS examina la impresión fotomecánica como parte fundamental de la historia de la fotografía, la historia del arte, la ciencia y la cultura visual, entre la introducción de la fotografía a finales de los años treinta del siglo XIX y el inicio de la producción industrial en serie de fotografías en los años sesenta del mismo siglo en el Reino Unido, Francia y el Imperio austriaco. La investigación consiste en estudios de colecciones y archivos, análisis visuales, materiales y contextuales, y la interpretación de objetos originales (impresiones y matrices), así como la lectura detallada de correspondencia, manuscritos y publicaciones de la época. El proyecto estudiará las estructuras sociales y las redes de inventores, partidarios, críticos y usuarios, y prestará atención a los debates sobre el potencial y el futuro de la impresión fotomecánica. Este proyecto tiene en cuenta perspectivas sobre el desarrollo de la tecnología basada en la fotografía y su interpretación.

Objetivo

The project examines the pioneering era of photomechanical printing as a fundamental part of history of photography, art, science and modern visual culture. It focuses on the first three decades of development of photomechanical technologies, i.e. the era between the introduction of photography in the late 1830s and the outset of industrial mass-production of photography-based images in the 1860s. It centres on the UK, France and the Austrian Empire, as countries which played leading parts in the photomechanical research and practice from the 1840s onwards. Considering the state of the art of existing scholarship, as well as the amount and variety of preserved sources, the research will comprise collection and archival surveys, visual, material and contextual analysis and interpretation of original objects (prints and matrices), as well as close reading of correspondence, manuscripts and period publications. In order to understand the circumstances and cultural contexts in which different photomechanical technologies emerged and developed, the project will also look at social structures and networks of inventors, supporters, critics, and users. Great attention will be paid to theoretical period discussions on potential and the future of photomechanical printing. More elaborate knowledge of these phenomena will help to understand not only history of photography, but also history of art and science, and to consider more carefully different perspectives on development of photography-based technology and its interpretation. Through close collaboration with the supervisor and the partner institutions, the fellow will be able to extend her research beyond history of photography, and to enhance her complex research capacities, inter-sectoral collaboration, networking, leadership, managerial and publication skills. Advanced training through research, dissemination and communication activities will contribute significantly to the fellow’s professional and career development.