A manual of artistic colouring, as applied to photographs : a practical guide to artists and photographers 1861

In 1861, Alfred H. Wall published "A manual of artistic colouring, as applied to photographs," a practical guide aimed at artists and photographers in London. This wasn't just a technical manual; it reflects a crucial moment in the history of art and photography as cultural institutions. Photography, still relatively new, was gaining popularity, but it was often seen as a lesser art form compared to painting. Wall's manual attempted to bridge this gap by providing instructions on how to artistically color photographs, essentially elevating them to the realm of fine art. Think about it – this book comments on the social structures of its time, suggesting photography needed to be 'improved' by techniques borrowed from painting to be considered valuable. To fully understand Wall's manual, one might delve into the period's artistic debates. Looking at art journals, exhibition reviews, and photographic society records will help to understand how institutions shaped the production and reception of art.