Portrait of Edmond Cottinet (1824-1895)
1848
Captured using the salted paper print technique pioneered by Le Gray himself, this early photographic portrait demonstrates the medium's potential for artistic expression in mid-19th century France.
- Medium
- salted paper print from a paper negative
- Location
- Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Spotted works by Gustave Le Gray
Artists in conversation
Félix Nadar
French · b. 1820
Nadar was a pioneering French photographer who created formal monochrome portrait studies of notable 19th century figures using early photographic techniques, sharing Le Gray's commitment to elevating photography as a serious artistic medium in France.
David Octavius Hill
Scottish · b. 1802
Hill collaborated extensively on salted paper calotype portraits during the same mid 19th century period, producing formal monochrome studies with the same soft tonal qualities and historically significant documentary character seen in this portrait.
Charles Nègre
French · b. 1820
Nègre was a contemporary French photographer working with paper negative processes in the same era as Le Gray, producing formal classical portraits with the characteristic warm monochrome tones and painterly quality associated with early French fine art photography.
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