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Vortograph 2

Photograph
1917 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Coburn, Alvin Langdon (photographer)

Print signed by Langdon Coburn, on original paper mount, which is adhered to an RPS support. The paper mount is separating slightly from the RPS support, and the mount is separating slightly from the original support, especially at the top left corner.
An object seems to have originally been mounted on the verso of the RPS mount.

Object details

Categories
Photographs
Portraits
The Royal Photographic Society
Object type
Photograph
TitleVortograph 2 (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Print on original paper mount, on RPS card support.
Photographic Paper
Photography
Brief description
Photograph by Alvin Langdon Coburn, Vortograph 2, 1917
Physical description
Print signed by Langdon Coburn, on original paper mount, which is adhered to an RPS support. The paper mount is separating slightly from the RPS support, and the mount is separating slightly from the original support, especially at the top left corner.
An object seems to have originally been mounted on the verso of the RPS mount.
Dimensions
  • Image height: 278mm
  • Image width: 205mm
  • Paper mount height: 311mm
  • Paper mount width: 226mm
Content description
Vortograph, made using a kaleidoscope-type instrument of 3 mirrors that, when fitted over the lens of a camera, would reflect and fracture the image. Instrument made by Coburn in 1916 and dubbed the 'Vortescope' by Ezra Pound.
Marks and inscriptions
  • Alvin Langdon Coburn (Recto of original mount, lower right, signed by artist in pencil)
  • 24 (Recto of original RPS mount, bottom left edge)
  • The Royal Photographic Society / Permanent Collection sticker Name Title Date Acquired Ref No.: (Verso, top left, sticker with green ink)
  • A. L. COBURN HON FRPS VORTOGRAPH 1917 1/2/490 (Verso of RPS mount, on RPS sticker, handwritten in black ink. Each line of information appears to have been written by a different hand.)
  • The Royal Photographic Society Catalogue sticker / C.28 Part / Section / Number 1 / 2 / 490 (Verso of original RPS mount, top left, with numbers handwritten in black ink)
Credit line
The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund.
Object history
Gift of Alvin Langdon Coburn, 1930.
Associated object
PROV.1127-2017 (RPS Group record)
Other numbers
  • 2003-5001/2/20524 - Science Museum Group accession number
  • C.28 - RPS identifier - artist name
  • XRP124 - RPS collection - V&A identifier
Collection
Department of Photography
Accession number
RPS.344-2017

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Record createdApril 28, 2017
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1390433/vortograph-2-photograph-coburn-alvin-langdon/
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