Figure 1.--This small black and white snapshot shows a trio of Belgian children taken in July 1950. Notice the wide white border and serrated edge. The dealer suggested it measured 6 x 6 cm, but it does not look square. |
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We have been unable to find much information about photography in Belgium. We do note that some of the first forensic photographers were taken in Belgium (1843). That was only a few years after the invention of the Daguerreotype priocess. We notice relatively few Dags and Ambros, but the same was true for France and Germany as well. We first begin to see large numbers of photograohic images when the albumen process and the CDV becomes popular (1860s). We have not, however, archived many Belgian CDVs and cabinet cards so we do not yet know much about 19th centiry Belgian photography. The photographs we have archived suggest that Belgian photography followed the same basic trends prevalent in neigboring France and Germany. Belgium had a very strong chemical industry and Belgian companies manufactured photographic paper. Gevaert Ridax was an important manufacturer of photographic paper. Leo Hendrik Baekeland (1863–1944) was a Belgian chemist who invented Velox photographic paper (1893). Velox became the basis for Kodak photgraphic paper. We have not yet foiund information on Belgian photographers. We do note the Baker-Johnsons, but their work is primrily associated withn the United states. We know much more about the 20th century and have a small, but growing number of Belguan images. The most important museum of photography in Europe is located in Charleroi, the largest city in Wallonia. It is situated in the former Carmelite monastery of Mont-sur-Marchienne.
We have been unable to find much information about photography in Belgium. We do note that some of the first forensic photographers were taken in Belgium (1843). This suggests that photography ws well-accepted in Belgium from a very early point. That was only a few years after the invention of the Daguerreotype priocess. We notice relatively few Dags and Ambros, but the same was true for France and Germany as well. We first begin to see large numbers of photograohic images whgen the albumen process and the CDV becomes popular (1860s). We have not, however, archived many Belgian CDVs and cabinet cards so we do not yet know much about 19th centiry Belgian photography. The photographs we have archived suggest that Belgian photography followed the same basic trends prevalent in neigboring France and Germany. We know much more about the 20th century and have a small, but growing number of Belgian images.
We note the same types of photographic images that we see elsewhere in Europe. As in other European countries we note very few Dags an Ambros, especially the cased images that were so common in America. We believe that there were large numbers of CDVs and cabinet cards although we have found very few to archive. We do have quite a number of 20th century images both portraits and snapshots. Most 19th century photographs were portraits. Afterthe turn-ofthe 20th century we begin to see snapshots which became and important part of the photographic record. Most come from the post-World war I era beginning in the 1920s. We note snap shot prints done in different shapes, including the square print here from the 1950s (figure 1). We also note a range of borders including smooth and ragged, serrated borders. Here we see the serrted edges in the 1950s. Some portraits were done on the same photogrphic paper used for snapshots. These various characteristics are useful in dating snpshots.
Belgium had a very strong chemical industry and Belgian companies manufactured photographic paper. Gevaert Ridax was an important manufacturer of photographic paper. Leo Hendrik Baekeland (1863–1944) was a Belgian chemist who invented Velox photographic paper (1893). Velox became the basis for Kodak photgraphic paper.
We have not yet foiund information on Belgian photographers. We do note the Baker-Johnsons, but their work is primrily associated withn the United states.
The most important museum of photography in Europe is located in Charleroi, the largest city in Wallonia. It is situated in the former Carmelite monastery of Mont-sur-Marchienne.
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