Gathering Water-Lilies
Photograph
1886 (photographed)
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).
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 |
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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 |
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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 created | July 24, 2003 |
Record URL |
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