Cours de photographie / par Abney; traduit de l'Anglais par Léonce Rommelaere 1877

Displayed is the third edition of "Cours de Photographie" translated into French by Léonce Rommelaere from the English original by Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney, printed in 1877. Abney, an English astronomer, chemist, and photographer, occupied a prominent position in the British military and scientific establishment. His manual offers insight into the technical advancements in photography during the late 19th century, a period marked by significant colonial expansion and scientific exploration. Photography, then a relatively new medium, was inextricably linked to the project of empire, used both to document and legitimize colonial ventures. Consider that access to photographic knowledge, as disseminated through books like this, would have largely been limited to privileged classes, further entrenching existing power structures. Reflect on how the production and consumption of images reinforced cultural narratives and shaped perceptions of both the colonizer and the colonized. How do you think this dynamic played out in shaping the identities of those both behind and in front of the camera?