Traité pratique de photographie au charbon : complété par la description de divers procédés d'impressions inaltérables : ohotochromie et tirages photomécaniques 1877

This is an 1877 copy of "Practical Treatise on Charcoal Photography" by Léon Vidal, a leading figure in the development of early photographic techniques in France. Vidal was concerned with the status of photography as a medium and his work was motivated by a drive to gain photography recognition as fine art, equal to painting or sculpture. This book is a practical manual, but it also reflects a specific moment in the cultural history of photography. In the late 19th century, photography was becoming increasingly popular, but it was also facing challenges from other, more established art forms. Manuals like this were part of a larger effort to professionalize photography and to establish it as a legitimate art form. The reference to 'inalterable impressions' also speaks to concerns about the fading of early photographs and a desire to establish photography as a permanent art form. To better understand its significance, we might look at other manuals and instruction books from the period, as well as the writings of art critics and theorists who were grappling with the rise of photography. These resources will help us to understand how this book contributed to the ongoing effort to define and legitimize photography as an art form.