THIS IS PRE-ORDER / SHIPPING END OF AUGUST

At its beginning, photography was a slow and complex process, reserved for an elite of professionals or enlightened amateurs. Until the end of the 19th century, every photograph was a staged production. Nothing was spontaneous. People went to be photographed as they once went to be painted: to mark an important moment, to leave a trace. In this volume, I present a curated selection of items from my personal collection — tangible witnesses to this era when every image was an official, deliberately composed document.

The first part focuses on identity papers: a fascinating mix of calligraphy, handwritten signatures, official stamps, fingerprints… The second part features ferrotypes — portraits made on metal plates, popular throughout the 19th century. The final section showcases a selection of cabinet cards — elegant portraits mounted on thick cardboard. The reverse side of these cards is often as captivating as the photo itself.

112 pages. Canvas cover with hot foil printing