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Power Grips

Photograph
1968

Grey mounting board titled 'Power Grips' with three black and white photographs of hands gripping tubular objects and their corresponding patterns of pressure captured on sensitised printing paper, each accompanied with descriptions.

Object details

Category
The Royal Photographic Society
Object type
Photograph
TitlePower Grips (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Gelatin silver prints mounted to board
Photographic Paper
Photography
Gelatin Silver Process
Brief description
'Power Grips' by Miss Francis Ellis, photographs mounted to board, 1968
Physical description
Grey mounting board titled 'Power Grips' with three black and white photographs of hands gripping tubular objects and their corresponding patterns of pressure captured on sensitised printing paper, each accompanied with descriptions.
Dimensions
  • Height: 555mm
  • Width: 640mm
Gallery label
Photography Centre, 2018-20:

Francis Ellis (dates unknown, active 1960s)
Power Grips
1968

Photography has been used to help medical research since the 19th century. This picture was made at the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in London, and depicts the patterns of pressure and positioning of hands when gripping tubular objects. To achieve these impressions, Ellis placed sensitised printing paper under the subject’s hand before they took hold of the tube.

Gelatin silver print
Museum no. RPS.1238-2018

The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Art Fund
Cameraless Photography

Frances Ellis (fl.1960s)
Power Grips
1968
Gelatin silver prints mounted to board
55.5 x 64 cm
Museum no. RPS. 1238-2018

This instructional panel, possibly made for teaching purposes, was produced by a member of the photographic department at the Royal Free Hospital, London. It reveals patterns of hand grips through the simple use of the chemigram. A text on the panel explains: ‘The prints were taken with the printing paper wrapped closely round the objects.’

The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Art Fund
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.
Other number
2003-5001/2/24738 - Science Museum Group accession number
Collection
Department of Photography
Accession number
RPS.1238-2018

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Record createdFebruary 23, 2018
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1433553/power-grips-photograph/
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