Répertoire encyclopédique de photographie : comprenant par ordre alphabétique tout ce qui a paru et paraît en France et à l'étranger depuis la découverte par Niepce et Daguerre. Tome 4 c. 1862 - 1866

This is the title page of Volume 4 of Henri de La Blanchère's "Encyclopedic Directory of Photography," a book published in Paris in the mid-19th century. Consider the moment in which it was made: photography was still a relatively new medium, and its place in the art world was very much in question. How could photography be systematized or taught? What would count as legitimate knowledge? La Blanchère's book was an attempt to impose a system on this rapidly developing field. His role as President of the Société Libre des Beaux-Arts, as well as other scientific societies, is proudly displayed on the cover, showing his position in the art world. Resources like this directory offer valuable insight into the way photography was understood and legitimized as an art form in its early years. It's fascinating to consider the social and institutional forces that shaped our understanding of photography as a creative medium.