"SELF PORTRAIT" DATE 1897 BY ROBERT DEMACHY (FRENCH 1859-1936). PROCESS NOT KNOWN. CURRENT LOCATION: MUSÉE NICÉPHORE NIÉPCE, CHALON-SUR-SAÔNE, FRANCE
Robert Demachy (1859–1936) was a French Pictorial photographer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known for his intensely manipulated prints that display a distinct painterly quality. He was influenced by the Impressionist painters and spent most of his time making photographs and developing his theories on photography, both technical and aesthetic. He wrote thousands of articles and several books on photography and was a strong proponent of techniques used to manipulate a photograph such as the gum bichromate process, oil transfers, and scratching of the gelatin.
“Do not say that nature being beautiful, and photography being able to reproduce its beauty, therefore photography is Art. This is unsound. Nature is often beautiful, of course, but never artistic ’per se’, for there can be no art without intervention of the artist in the making of the picture. Nature is but a theme for the artist to play upon. Straight photography registers the theme, that is all - and, between ourselves, it registers it differently” Quoted in Robert Demachy 1859-1936: Photographs and Essays. Bill Jay 1974 (pp. 28-29)
Demachy Oil Transfer print.
I’ve started the process of exploring the Oil Transfer process. What is it? Basically, it’s a Rawlins Oil print that’s transferred to a piece of paper via a press. I’ve been working in the Rawlins Oil printing technique for a few years now, and really like it. However, I think the transfer process will give me some added benefits for the final print. It’s a very rare process, too, not many have or are practicing it, I like that aspect too.
Richeson 11” Press
The only new piece of equipment I’ll need is a small press. I think I’m leaning toward the Richeson Baby Press. It’s perfect for what I want to do. Stay tuned, let’s see what happens!