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Nadar élevant la Photographie à la hauteur de l'Art (Nadar Raising Photography to the Level of Art)
Nadar élevant la Photographie à la hauteur de l'Art (Nadar Raising Photography to the Level of Art)
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Object number1968/9.74

Nadar élevant la Photographie à la hauteur de l'Art (Nadar Raising Photography to the Level of Art)

Artist (French, 1808-1879)
Date1862
Mediumlithograph
Dimensionsimage: 10 5/8 × 8 5/8 in. (27 × 21.9 cm)
sheet: 17 5/8 × 12 1/8 in. (44.8 × 30.8 cm)
mat: 20 × 16 in. (50.8 × 40.6 cm)
Credit LineDirector's Fund
Exhibition History"French Scenarios," KIA Long Gallery (May 21 - Sept. 20, 2004). "Humor & Satire: Prints, Drawings & Paintings from the Permanent Collection," KIA Long Gallery (Feb. 5 - Apr. 2007). "Curator's Choice: European Works on Paper," KIA Long Gallery (May 9 - Aug. 27, 2008). "Lasting Legacy: A Collection for Kalamazoo," Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, Michigan (Sep. 6, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015). "L'esprit: Exploring Wit and Beauty in French Prints," works from the KIA permanent collection (June 15 - August 25, 2019). "L'esprit: Exploring Wit and Beauty in French Prints," [Travel Version], Sardoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA (August 3, 2021 - October 10, 2021).Label TextHonoré Daumier was instrumental in transforming lithography, a relatively new printing technology, from a medium of commercial reproduction to one of artistic expression. Exploiting the full range of tonal possibilities of the medium—from rich, velvety blacks to delicate grays—Daumier found the smooth, firm surface of the lithographic stone conducive to his expressive and nuanced use of line. Daumier quickly rose to prominence as Paris’s pre-eminent political satirist and, over a long career, created more than 4,000 lithographs for various French journals. Not all of Daumier’s images were overtly satirical, but offered captivating glimpses of Parisian life in the mid-19th century. Nadar Raises Photography to the Level of Art celebrates one of photography’s early masters. Nadar was passionate about both photography and ballooning, and used those skills to become a pioneer in aerial photography. In this work, Daumier captures Nadar’s flamboyant personality and dedication to photography.