The Fringe of the Mere
Photograph
1882-1888 (photographed), 1890 (published), 1888 (published), 1890 (published)
1882-1888 (photographed), 1890 (published), 1888 (published), 1890 (published)
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| Place of origin |
In 1889 Emerson published his controversial book 'Naturalistic Photography for Students of the Art' without images. 'Naturalistic Photography' examined his purist approach to photography, derived from his fascination with Naturalism in art, and attacked the prevailing artificial aesthetic in art photography. After its publication Emerson felt that his opponents had misunderstood his ideas. So, in 1890 he selected 10 plates from his book 'Pictures of East Anglian Life' (1888) that best illustrated his theories, and presented them loose in a portfolio dedicated to the ‘photographic student’, with the same title and cover of the book. He then donated copies of this portfolio to every photographic society in the country.
Pictures of East Anglian Life primarily contained images of rural inhabitants at work. The few generalised views and landscapes that Emerson included served the purpose of setting the scene to his anthropological investigation of the region. On the peaceful landscape of The Fringe of the Mere, he wrote, ‘the lilies in foreground are only suggested by focussing with judgment’.
Pictures of East Anglian Life primarily contained images of rural inhabitants at work. The few generalised views and landscapes that Emerson included served the purpose of setting the scene to his anthropological investigation of the region. On the peaceful landscape of The Fringe of the Mere, he wrote, ‘the lilies in foreground are only suggested by focussing with judgment’.
Object details
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| Object type | |
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| Materials and techniques | photogravure |
| Brief description | Photograph, 'The Fringe of the Mere', by Peter Henry Emerson, photogravure, Plate 5, from the 'Pictures of East Anglian Life' portfolio, 1890 |
| Physical description | A mounted black and white photograph |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Presented by Mr. P. H. Emerson on 18 July, 1890 |
| Object history | A portfolio containing 10 India proofs taken from the eponymous book (1888, 32 photogravures), published as a companion to his other book 'Naturalistic Photography for Students of the Art' (1889). With preface and Notes to the Student in the inside cover of the portfolio folder. Gift of the photographer 1890, transferred from the Print Collection, 1896 |
| Summary | In 1889 Emerson published his controversial book 'Naturalistic Photography for Students of the Art' without images. 'Naturalistic Photography' examined his purist approach to photography, derived from his fascination with Naturalism in art, and attacked the prevailing artificial aesthetic in art photography. After its publication Emerson felt that his opponents had misunderstood his ideas. So, in 1890 he selected 10 plates from his book 'Pictures of East Anglian Life' (1888) that best illustrated his theories, and presented them loose in a portfolio dedicated to the ‘photographic student’, with the same title and cover of the book. He then donated copies of this portfolio to every photographic society in the country. Pictures of East Anglian Life primarily contained images of rural inhabitants at work. The few generalised views and landscapes that Emerson included served the purpose of setting the scene to his anthropological investigation of the region. On the peaceful landscape of The Fringe of the Mere, he wrote, ‘the lilies in foreground are only suggested by focussing with judgment’. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | John Taylor The old order and the new: P H Emerson and photography, 1885-1895 Munich; New York; London: Prestel, 2006. 160p.: ill (some col). ISBN: 3791336991 / 9783791336992. |
| Other number | E.533-1890 - Previous number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | PH.2118-1896 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
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