Bloemenveld before 1898

Printed in an issue of the “Photographische Rundschau” is Pierre Dubreuil’s photogravure, “Bloemenveld”. Dubreuil made this landscape during a time of critical transition in photography, when the medium was debated as to whether it should be considered art. Dubreuil was among a group of photographers, largely white and male, who advocated for the Pictorialist style. He used techniques of manipulating the image to achieve an aesthetic quality closer to painting, which was considered a higher art form at the time. Pictorialism was not just about aesthetics, it was about asserting photography’s status in a cultural hierarchy. Here, Dubreuil's focus on soft focus and atmospheric perspective elevates the field of flowers from a simple snapshot to a dreamy, ethereal scene. The photogravure process itself, involving etching and printing, adds a layer of texture and tonality. In his own words, Dubreuil saw photography as "a means of personal expression." The resulting image evokes nostalgia, yet also reflects the cultural aspiration of the time.