How to Paint Photographs in Water Colors and in Oil

George AYRES

Item#: 50873 price:$300.00

HOW TO PAINT PHOTOGRAPHS, 1871

AYRES, George B. How to Paint Photographs in Water Colors and in Oil. Philadelphia: Benerman & Wilson, 1871. Octavo, original green cloth. $300.

Early edition of a popular guide to hand-coloring and retouching photographs.

As early as 1841, the photograph’s status and uniqueness, especially that of the portrait, “were heightened when parts of it were highlighted by hand-coloring” (Frizot, 42). From mid-century on, watercolors, oil paints, crayons and colored powders were regularly used to add realism, enhance details or hide imperfections. American manuals such as this, first published in 1869, provided instructions for hand-coloring prints and retouching negatives. With 12 pages of advertisements at rear.

Slightest rubbing and edge-wear to about-fine book.

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Aquatint Copperplate process by which the plate is “bitten” by exposure to acid. By changing the areas of the plate that are exposed and the length of time the plate is submerged in the acid bath, the engraver can obtain fine and varying shades of gray that closely resemble watercolor washes. Although the name contains the word “tint”, this is a black-and-white printing process; aquatint plates can often be hand colored, however.
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Chromolithograph Lithograph printed in colors, typically three or more.
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