Portrait of Sarah Bernhardt (1859) (wet collodion)

Petzval 1840

Hello:

I show them one of my favorite portraits: the French actress Sarah Bernhardt photographed with the procedure of the wet colodion in 1859.

An expert photographer could obtain with this skill results equal or superior to those of better films current BW.
The photo was taken almost with complete certainty with a Petzval lens, since the aplanat, rectilinear or symmetrical, they were not patented until the following year.

Bests Regards: David

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Stunning! Thank you for sharing!

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

Yes, from the very beginning photography had this quality

fish4570 · Expire: 2012-03-21

very interesting. such smooth shoulder and facial skin, yet her right hand seems to belong to a hard-working peasant ...

hexi · Expire: 2011-11-18

Simply stunning. Without going into a film / digital debate, i wonder if this kind of picture could be achieved with nowadays stuuf, but i doubt.

spleenone · Joined: 26 Dec 2009 Posts: 1130 Location: Slovakia

Incredible! Where do you found this pic? Somebody knows Nadar here? He was also really good portraitist.

poilu · Expire: 2019-08-29

great document!

Petzval 1840 · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 10:35 pm Post subject:

Hello:

If; I know Nadar, but in the French printed book approximately 40 years ago, have not found the author of this magnificent portrait. Clearly Sarah Bernhardt only must be photographed for the best photographers.

I see that the skill of the wet colodion has not died and that there are still photographers who take photos with this skill.

http://www.collodion.com/

Bests Regards: David

PaulC · Joined: 23 Dec 2008 Posts: 2318

There are portraits of her by Nadar with the same setting but from different angles. It must be Nadar.

spleenone · Joined: 26 Dec 2009 Posts: 1130 Location: Slovakia

I saw Sarah at those different poses. Gorgeous. I found that portrait by his name. Then I suppose that must be him too.
His selfportrait... btw charming man.