Figure 1.--In our photograpic section we like to use dated images. This Inverness CDV is undated, but the clothing and mount style help to date it to the 1890s. We rarely see CDVs in America in the 1890s, but they were still done in Europe.

Photogrphy in Scotland as in other countries changed dramatically with the appearance of the CDV. The CDV was an albumen process which used negatives. Prints were produced on chemically treated paper. The albumen process was much less expensive than earlier formats (both Dags and Ambros) and multiple copies could be purchased to send to families and friends. The CDV first appeared (mid-1850s), but did not become popular for some time. The CDV was invented in France. It is only gradually that we begin to see substantial numbers (1860s). This occurred at about the same time in America, Britain, and France. We are not exactly sure why the CDV was not immediately popular or why it suddenly becam popular. But in Scotland like all countries including France), there are vert few CDVs from the 1850s and suddenly quite a number from the 1860s. Early CVDVs are easy to spot because they do not have any of the studio information that became so common. This is not absolutely true, but is a very good chrnological indicator. It is also vital in identifying where these photographs are from. Almost laways we have no information as to provinance except the stydio infotmation. And the style of the studio information is also helpful in dating the CDV. It was so popular that suddenly we begin to see huge numbers of Scottish images for the first time, far more than the earlier processes. And for the first time we can discuss Scottish fashions in detail. This also expanded the social class mix of the photographic record making it a much more accurate indicator of popular fashion. For the first time, working-class people can afford to have photographs taken and sent to family and friends. The photography in the 19th century has a social class bias because of the cost, but not neraly as pronounced as painteted portraits had in the past. At first the CDV mounts were styled differently, but by the 1880s we begin to see CDV mounts that looks like cabinet cards. The 1890s CDV here is a good example (figure 1). Most of the portraits we have found through the 1870s were CDVs. We do not know why CDVs persisted longer in Scotland and England than in America. The same was true of Europe generally. We continue to find CDV examples into the 1890s while it had largely gone out of style in many other countries. We are not yet sure about the 1900s, but suspect there were still a few. Scotland is a small country. Thus are archive enabling us to follow these trends is much smaller than what we have colleced fi Engkand, stil we have found a goodly numebr of examples.

Process

Photogrphy in Scotland as in other countries changed dramatically with the appearance of the CDV. The CDV was an albumen process which used negatives to print images The print were produced on chemically treated paper. The phiotographic paper was paserd on to cards or mounts which became increasingly fancy over time. We can see that here in this this 1890s mount (figure 1). The albumen process was much less expensive than earlier formats (both Dags and Ambros) and because it did not invomve an espensive piece of metl like the Dag. mnvros were chepaer because ythey used glass, but paper was even less xpnbsive and eadsierr to deal with. Another advantage is that the alnumen process involved a negative, mraning that multiple copies could be inexpensively purcased to send to family and friends. The albumen process wa sused for CDVs, cabinet cardsm and steroscopic cards.

Chronology

The CDV first appeared (mid-1850s), but did not become popular for some time. The CDV was invented in France. It is only gradually that we begin to see substantial numbers (1860s). This occurred at about the same time in America, Britain, and France. We are not exactly sure why the CDV was not immediately popular or why it suddenly becam popular. But in Scotland like all countries including France), there are vert few CDVs from the 1850s and suddenly quite a number from the 1860s. Early CVDVs are easy to spot because they do not have any of the studio information on the frontthat became so common as wse see here (figure 1). Rather there was no studio ibforanmtion or it was stamped on the bank in ink. This is not absolutely true, but is a very good chrnological indicator. It is also vital in identifying where these photographs are from. Almost laways we have no information as to provinance except the stydio infotmation. And the style of the studio information is also helpful in dating the CDV. Most of the portraits we have found through the 1870s were CDVs. We do not know why CDVs persisted longer in Scotland and England than in America. The same was true of Europe generally. We continue to find CDV examples into the 1890s while it had largely gone out of style in many other countries. We are not yet sure about the 1900s, but suspect there were still a few.

Popularity

The CDV was so popular that suddenly we begin to see huge numbers of Scottish images for the first time, far more than the earlier processes. And for the first time we can discuss Scottish fashions in detail. Scotland is a small country. Thus our archive enables us to follow these trends is much smaller than what we have colleced for England, stil we have found a goodly numebr of examples, more than for most small countries. Here economics is tthe most important factor.

Social Class

The CDV also expanded the social class mix of the photographic record making it a much more accurate indicator of popular fashion. For the first time working-class people can afford to have photographs taken and sent to family and friends. The photography in the 19th century has a social class bias because of the cost, but not neraly as pronounced as painteted portraits had in the past.

Mounts

At first the CDV mounts were styled differently, but by the 1880s we begin to see CDV mounts that looks like cabinet cards. The 1890s CDV here is a good example (figure 1). Notice the special treatment with gilded edges and lettering.

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Created: 7:19 PM 2/4/2020
Last updated: 10:43 PM 12/25/2021