German Photography: CDVs


Figure 1.--We still see CDVs inGermany during the early-20th century. This CDV wa taken in 1910. Notice that it looks just like a cabinet card, very different than the early CDVs with rules. The greyish green was aopulr mount color after the turn-of-the 20th century.

The first format for albumen prints was the Carte de Visite (CDV). The CDV was developed in France during the 1850s. We note CDVs in Germany beginning in the 1860s. There may have been some German 1850s CDVs, but we suspect they were very rare. The CDVs basically made dags and ambrotypes obsolete. German 1860s CDVs were not at first as common as in America, but we begin to see substantial numbers of photographic images in Germany for the first time. And by the 1870s we begin to see substantial numbers. Early CDVs were done in the smne style as American and British CDVs with colored ruled borders. CDVs seem to gave been the principal phototographic format form most of the late-19th century in Germany and much of Europe. America went primarily to cabinet cards in the 1870s, but this did not happen in Europe. CDVs were common throughout the rest of the century. Cabinet cards were also taken and by the 90s were common, but did not replace CDVs. We are unsure why the CDV persusted longer in Europe. We see CDVs done in the same style as cabinet cards. CDV and cabinet card mounts were at first destinctive. Gradually CDV mounts began to look just like cabinet card mounts, only smaller. We still see CDVs in the early 20th century. Most families of any affluence would have a CDV album, sometimes several, in the parlour to show to visitors.

Albumen Process

The first format for albumen prints was the Carte de Visite (CDV). The albumen process CDV was developed in France during the 1850s. We note CDVs in Germany beginning in the 1860s. There may have been some German 1850s CDVs, but we suspect they were very rare. The CDVs basically made dags and ambrotypes obsolete.

Chronology

CDVs were very popular in Germany during the second half of the 19th cenntury. They dominated German photograpy for several decades. We first see German CDVs in the 1860s. There were probably some being made in the 1850s especially the late-50s, but we havevnot yet found any to archive. As innother countries the CDV suddenly became enormously popular (about 1860). German photography was not at first as common as in America, primarily for economic reasons. With the popularity of the CDV we begin to see numbers of photographic images in Germany for the first time. And by the 1870s we begin to see substantial numbers. CDVs seem to gave been the principal German phototographic format for most of the late-19th century in Germany and much of Europe. America went primarily to cabinet cards in the 1870s. They appeared 1866) and were an instant success. This did not happen in much of Western Europe. Eastern Europe was a little different. CDVs after appearing were were common throughout the rest of the century. Cabinet cards were also taken and by the 90s were also common, but did not replace CDVs. We are unsure why the CDV persisted longer in Western Europe. One would have thought that thevlarger image size of the cabinet card woukld have attracted nany consumers. Perhaps price differences were a factor. We see CDVs done in the same style as cabinet cards. We still see some CDVs in the early-20th century.

Mounts

CDV and cabinet card mounts were at first destinctive. Early CDVs were done in the same style as American and British CDVs with colored ruled borders. This was a fairly common style for the mounts. It was an effort to provide framing look. The ruling may have been a matter of following early French conventions. It was something new for CDVs. Other early formats (Daguerreotypes and Ambrotypes) did not have paper mounts. It was common throughout the 1860s abd 70s. The rulings varied in width and number. Red was a popular color for the rulings. We begin to see fancier CDVs in the 1880s. Gradually CDV mounts began to look just like cabinet card mounts, only smaller. This also did not occur in America to any extent. We see fancy cabinet card mounts in America, but rarely the fabcy CDVs like we see in Germany.

Albums

Albums became became very popular in Germany. Perhaps more popukar than in any other country. Most families with anynkind of income would have a CDV album, sometimes several, in the parlor to show to visitors.









HBC





Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main German albumen process page]
[Return to the Main German photography page]
[Return to the Main German page]
[Return to the Main CDV page]
[Return to the Main national photographt page]
[Introduction] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries] [Photography]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [German glossaries] [Images] [Links] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]




Created: 3:33 AM 2/10/2012
Last updated: 9:00 AM 11/11/2019