Early 1900s Photography

An important original Pacific Northwest Native American photograph, by Benjamin Gifford (1859-1936), titled "Indian Madonna & Child", produced in the Dalles Oregon, 1901. Around 1900...

Young Girl Asleep in the Window - Poetry Reading 1904 - Photogravure Enchanting image of a young girl dozing off after a morning of poetry reading, the diamond of the photographic arts is the photogravure by Miss Emma Justine Farnsworth (American, 1860-1952). A rich and complex photographic image using the photogravure printing process. soft hues and rich blacks with eye catching detail. Miss Farnswaorth signed her work J.G. Farnsworth which is for middle name Justine and her mothers maiden name Sara Visscher Gourlay (Farnsworth) Signed by impression lower right "J. G. Farnsworth" (for Justine Gourlay Farnsworth) "Copyright 1904" lower left “Of all photoengraving methods there is none which produces such rich and satisfying results as photogravure. The reason for this is to be found in the method of printing. It is an intaglio process and, therefore, the quantity of ink which is transferred to the paper can be considerable, and it shares with mezzotint among hand engraving processes the resulting richness of tones.” Captain Herbert Mills Cartwirght, 1930 The photogravure process had its beginnings in the mid-19th century when Fox Talbot devised a method of producing intaglio (etching) plates by etching through a bichromated gelatin film. In 1879 Karl Klic introduced the first efficient and reliable method of producing photogravures. Emma Justine Farnsworth was born on October 16, 1860, in Albany, New York, where she lived her full ninety-one-year life. Her father was a successful lumber merchant and Emma never married. Farnsworth, who had modest art training, received a camera outfit as a gift one Christmas and began to use it the following summer. The earliest known record of her exhibiting photographs is the second Joint Exhibition of 1888, where three of her pictures were seen. Over the next five years, she also was successful in two newspaper competitions. Her work consisted primarily of genre scenes and figure studies. Early on, Farnsworth took to illustrating books with her sentimental photographs. In 1892, In Arcady appeared, featuring six tipped-in photogravures printed on tissue, picturing classically draped women in the open air, with birds, harps, and children. This thin, but large-scale volume includes verse by the ancient Greek poet Anacreon and others, selected by Farnsworth. Two other titles with images by her were published—both children’s books, also using tissue...

Set of three Edward Sheriff Curtis original photogravures; Quniaika- Mohave, Portfolio #2, Plate #60, Qahatika Water Girl, Portfolio #2, Plate #54, Home of the Havasupai, Portfolio ...

Set of three Edward Sheriff Curtis original photogravures; Pima Baskets, Portfolio #2, Plate #41, Gathering Hanamh- Papago, Portfolio #2, Plate #49, and Pima Baskets, Portfolio #2, P...

Photographic Portrait with Autograph musical quotation signed and dated Paris 1906 by the French composer Jules Massenet (Montaud, 1842 - Paris, 1912). Massenet pens three bars from...

If you know photography, you'll know E. J. Bellocq is most famous for his photos of the prostitutes of Storyville in New Orleans, which (as Wikipedia mentions) have been "the inspiration for novels, poems and films." His character actually appears in the film "Pretty Baby," played by Keith Carradine. His photos first exploded into recognition when they were shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. At any rate, this print is exceedingly rare - the only one I personally have seen in all my time at auctions and galleries in New Orleans- of the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in 1908. Bellocq's prostitute photos are not to everyone's taste, but this exquisite photo will charm anyone who is a fan of New Orleans, or lives on the North Shore (Mandeville, Covington), or is just into rare photography...

Italian immigrants in New York in 1905 is a vintage black and white vintage photograph realized by an anonymous photographer. Good conditions.

Royal Cuirassiers Regiment of Zar Nicholas II by Karl Bulla is a silver bromide print applied on cardboard. High quality print made by the famous court photographer Kar bulla in St. Petersburg between 1908 and 1909. Handwritten signature of the photographer on front lower edge. Handwritten pencil notes on the back. Some scratches on cardboard, otherwise excellent conditions Dim: cm 35 x 43 cm with 24 x 32 print applied In the picture a group portrait of Nicholas II and his wife, surrounded by the entire regiment of royal cuirassiers Karl Bulla is considered "the father of russian photo...

Von Gloeden n°139 is an original photographic print on textured paper, printed in 1909 by Wilhelm von Gloeden On the lower left edge of front: " V. Gloeden Taormina 10/11 09", handwritten in brown ink. On the back: number of catalog 139 and B and D (?) letters handwritten in blue pencil with very fluid calligraphy. Always on the back printing notes and number of inventory handwritten in grey pencil with angular calligraphy: " (?) marrone" and "R-C 235 F C chassis 5 at av". The print is realized with a characteristic brown-tone croming bath and printed in the larger format from artist's catalogue. Dim: cm 38,5 x 28,5 Slightly dull tones, good conditions. Framed with modern frame 30 x 40 cm. Wilhelm Iwan Friederich August Freiherr von Gloeden (September 16, 1856 – February 16, 1931) was a German photographer who worked mainly in Italy. His innovations include the use of photographic filters and special body makeup. In the second half of the nineteenth century, Italy became the country of choice for homosexuals in northern Europe, most likely because, at the time, this country was much more liberal than other European countries. In particular, Taormina attracted numerous literaries, artists and prominent men of the high society. The Arcadian photographs of Baron Wilhelm...

Washington Monument (1900) Silver Gelatin Fibre Print - Oversized (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/Alamy) Washington Monument and Reflection, Washington DC, USA, circa 1900. Addit...

The Beverly Hills Hotel is a beautiful black and white photograph realized in 1939 by an unknown photographer of the Spence Air Photo. A spectacular panoramic and aerial view highlights the Beverly Hills Hotel, the 5 star luxury hotel, the home of Hollywood royalty past and present, located on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills. This world's best-known hotel was established in May 1912, before the city's existence. And was designed by Pasadena architect Elmer Grey, in the Mediterranean Revival style...

Vintage photogravure 6.25 x 7.125 inches This photograph is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. This is a portrait of the artist's oldest son, Maynard White, shot on the coast of Maine, near Bath. Clarence H. White first became interested in photography during the Chicago Universal Exposition in 1893. Five years later he founded the Newark Camera Club and met Fred Holland Day...