The Evolution of Salted Paper Printing During the 1850s: Published Recipes

ABSTRACT

A close reading of sources in Britain, Europe, and the United States published during the early years of photography produces a timeline of developments in the processes used to make positive prints on paper. This serves to indicate the most prominent innovators in the early evolution of photographic printing and to mark the first appearance of significant modifications in the printing process, particularly the use of albumen.

RÉSUMÉ

Une lecture attentive de documents publiés en Grande-Bretagne, en Europe et aux États-Unis au cours des premières années de la photographie révèle une chronologie du développement des procédés utilisés pour faire des épreuves positives sur papier. Cela permet d’identifier les innovateurs les plus importants dans l’évolution initiale de l’impression photographique et de marquer la première apparition de modifications significatives du procédé d'impression, particulièrement l’utilisation de l’albumen. Traduit par Mireille Brulotte.

RESUMO

Uma leitura atenta de fontes da Grã-Bretanha, Europa e Estados Unidos, publicadas durante os primeiros anos da fotografia, produz uma linha do tempo do desenvolvimento nos processos usados para fazer impressões positivas no papel. Isso serve para indicar as inovações mais importantes no inicio da evolução da impressão fotográfica e para marcar a primeira aparição de modificações significativas no processo de impressão, particularmente no uso da albumina. Traduzido por Marcia Rizzo.

RESUMEN

Una lectura detallada de las fuentes publicadas durante los primeros años de la fotografía en Gran Bretaña, Europa y Estados Unidos, produce una cronología de los desarrollos en los procesos utilizados para hacer impresiones positivas en papel. Esto sirve para identificar los innovadores más destacados en la evolución temprana de la impresión fotográfica y para conocer la primera aparición de modificaciones significativas en el proceso de impresión, particularmente el uso de la albúmina. Traducción: Amparo Rueda.

KEYWORDS:

• Salted paper prints
• albumen silver prints
• early photographic printing
• timeline
• published recipes
• 1850s

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Acknowledgements:

• The Getty Foundation

• The J. Paul Getty Museum

• The Getty Conservation Institute

• The National Gallery of Canada

Notes on contributor

John McElhone, now retired, was Chief Conservator at the National Gallery of Canada and, later, Chief, Conservation and Technical Research of the Canadian Photography Institute. Trained first in biochemistry, he moved into museum work and obtained a Masters degree in art conservation in 1985. He has spent most of his career as photograph conservator for Canada’s national art collection; during that time he has written extensively on preservation and historic photographic technology. He has translated several major publications on photography from French into English. On two occasions he was invited for residencies at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, CA, USA, where the major part of this research was carried out. Address: Library and Archives, National Gallery of Canada, PO Box 427, Station A, Ottawa ON, Canada, K1N 9N4. Email: [email protected].

Notes

* A comprehensive publication of all such information, including a complete bibliography, is planned.