Gustave Doré 1856 - 1858

This photograph of Gustave Doré was produced by Nadar, sometime in the mid-19th century, using the wet collodion process. This was a popular technique at the time, requiring the photographer to coat a glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals, expose it in the camera, and then develop it, all before the plate dried. The resulting image, printed on paper, has a soft, almost dreamy quality, which emphasizes Doré’s romantic appearance. The wet collodion process was labor-intensive and required technical expertise. The photographer needed to be both a skilled craftsman and an artist, carefully controlling the materials and processes to achieve the desired aesthetic effect. Considered in relation to Doré’s own artistic practice as an illustrator, this photograph highlights the shifting boundaries between art, craft, and technology in the 19th century, and the rise of photography as a means of both artistic expression and commercial enterprise. It prompts us to consider the social and economic context in which art is produced, and the role of skilled labor in its creation.