Famous Photographers 1801-1900

Although the first recreation of a permanent image occurred in 1826, color photography and the predecessors of modern pictures didn’t arrive until 1861. However, as soon as technology advanced methods for developing pictures progressed and portable cameras became more accessible, photography became a widespread hobby.

While some took pictures to document a moment, others practiced photography to spread information about current events, the foundation for modern photojournalism. Still others took to the camera to create art and express their perspectives.

When it comes to photography as an art form, the subjects, representations and methods of taking pictures are varied and complex. Along with using people and animals as subjects of photographs, photographers have also been known to capture pictures of even the most mundane objects, such as fruit and street signs.

In this section, we will discuss the work, lives and legacies of some of the earliest photographers.

Andre Giroux (1801-1879)

This famous French painter and photographer is best known for his representations of landscapes and restorations of medieval ruins. In fact, Andre Giroux was in some ways bred to be a photographer due to the fact that his dad invented camera equipment for Daguerre.
 
While he started out painting, Giroux also etched glass negatives to give his work a mechanical, industrial feel. He would then use his glass etchings as the basis for negatives from which he could reproduce countless photos, a technique that is known as cliché-verre. Keep reading to learn more about the life and work or Andre Giroux. 

EJ Bellocq (1873-1949)

Although most of his work wasn’t seen until after his death, this wealthy Creole man is most famous for his photos of prostitutes, opium dens and other seedy areas. While most of his work was tragically destroyed after his death, some photos survived and were published in a collection entitled Bellocq: Photographs from Storyville (1996).
 
In general, EJ Bellocq’s photographs focused on a single woman, either nude or partially dressed. Also, in almost all of his pictures, the faces of the women are scratched out. Although there was some speculation that those who found the photos vandalized them, most experts agree that Bellocq himself was the one who scratched out the faces in order to protect the women’s identities. Read on to learn more about EJ Bellocq’s legacy.

Man Ray (1890-1976)

Although he considered himself to be a painter, Man Ray was an American photographer who did work in fashion and portrait photography. However, his most lasting legacy lies in his significant contributions to the Dada and Surrealist art movements.
 
While he started to dabble in photographic Dada work in 1916, as his practice evolved throughout the 1920s, he moved to Paris, claiming that New York was not the right place for him to produce Dada pieces. During his career, Man Ray worked with other great artists, including Picasso, Dali, Arp and Ernst. Keep reading to learn more about the life and work of Man Ray.