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Gathering Water-Lilies

Photograph
1886 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

When Emerson was particularly satisfied with an image, he would publish it as a large individual print in two different ways: a ‘de luxe’ limited edition, presented on elegant India paper, and a standard edition on a lesser quality paper.
He published approximately seven images individually as ‘separate plates’. To further promote their unique appeal, as he did with all of his published works, he declared that the negatives, transparencies and plates would be destroyed so future reproductions could not be made. He was also strategic in making sure his works reached the collections of major art institutions.
He donated his single prints, books and portfolios to the Library at the South Kensington Museum (now the National Art Library at the V&A), The Royal Academy of Arts, and the Photographic Society (now The Royal Photographic Society), immediately after their publication to enhance his reputation.

This is Emerson’s most famous and ambiguous image. A seemingly romantic scene, it is actually a depiction of a man and a woman at work. In 1886 he donated a print to the Library at the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A). The entry in the 1888 Accession Registry of Engravings describes it as ‘probably the first photogravure negative from nature ever published separately as a work of art’. Emerson then included it as a platinotype in his first book Life and Landscape on the Norfolk Broads (1886-1887).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Gathering Water-Lilies (assigned by artist)
  • Life and landscape on the Norfolk Broads (series title)
Materials and techniques
Photograuvre
Brief description
Photograph, 'Gathering Water-Lilies', by Peter Henry Emerson, photogravure, 1886. Later published as a platinotype in his pictorial book 'Life and Landscape on the Norfolk Broads', in 1887, plate 9.
Physical description
A photogravure printed on India paper pasted onto a support paper of a woman and a man on a boat
Dimensions
  • Image height: 20.3cm
  • Image width: 29.9cm
  • Sheet height: 372mm
  • Sheet width: 463mm
Styles
Credit line
Presented by P.H. Emerson on 27 March, 1888
Object history
Gift of the photographer 1888, transferred from the Print Collection, 1896. In the 1888 Registry of Engravings the person who accessioned the object wrote: “(Probably the first photogravure negative from nature ever published separately as a work of art. May 14 1886) size 8 x 11 ½. Presented by P. H. E.”
Subjects depicted
Summary
When Emerson was particularly satisfied with an image, he would publish it as a large individual print in two different ways: a ‘de luxe’ limited edition, presented on elegant India paper, and a standard edition on a lesser quality paper.
He published approximately seven images individually as ‘separate plates’. To further promote their unique appeal, as he did with all of his published works, he declared that the negatives, transparencies and plates would be destroyed so future reproductions could not be made. He was also strategic in making sure his works reached the collections of major art institutions.
He donated his single prints, books and portfolios to the Library at the South Kensington Museum (now the National Art Library at the V&A), The Royal Academy of Arts, and the Photographic Society (now The Royal Photographic Society), immediately after their publication to enhance his reputation.

This is Emerson’s most famous and ambiguous image. A seemingly romantic scene, it is actually a depiction of a man and a woman at work. In 1886 he donated a print to the Library at the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A). The entry in the 1888 Accession Registry of Engravings describes it as ‘probably the first photogravure negative from nature ever published separately as a work of art’. Emerson then included it as a platinotype in his first book Life and Landscape on the Norfolk Broads (1886-1887).
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.6A-1888 - Previous number
Collection
Accession number
PH.2124-1896

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Record createdJuly 24, 2003
Record URL
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