Jacques Henri Lartigue: The Proof of Color

Jacques Henri Lartigue: The Proof of Color
Category: Photographer Monographs & Art Books
Reviews: star star star star star
Author: Jacques Henri Lartigue, Kevin Moore, Marion Perceval
Publisher: Atelier EXB Editions
Publication Date: 2024
Print Length: 160 pages
Language: English
Price: paid paid paid

Breathtaking autochrome images reveal the beauty and wonder that fueled Jacques-Henri Lartigue’s passion for photography. A key figure in the history of the medium, Lartigue was captivated by the innovations of his time, such as the automobile and telecommunications, and he eagerly embraced the new opportunities photography offered. In 1912, he began experimenting with a distinctive, though somewhat outdated, technique: stereoscopic autochrome on glass plates. This process required meticulous technical preparation and lengthy, precise exposure times for his carefully composed scenes. Instead of producing prints, Lartigue created double stereoscopic views, which he projected onto a screen, filling each frame with vibrant color through sunlit landscapes, vivid flowers, and playful moments with his affluent family and friends.

Though he used this technique for only a short period—from 1912 to 1927—Lartigue created a remarkable series of double-view autochromes. Ninety surviving images from this series are presented here for the first time in their entirety and at full scale. Accompanied by contextual commentary, The Proof of Color examines the lasting impact of these images on the history of color photography.

Born into a wealthy family, Jacques-Henri Lartigue (1894–1986) remained largely unknown as a photographer until 1963, when his work was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. That same year, his images reached a broader audience when Life magazine featured them in a spread, coinciding with the issue covering John F. Kennedy's death.

Selected Books by This Photographer

Lartigue: The Boy and the Belle Époque

2020 - Thames & Hudson

Jacques Henri Lartigue, Louise Baring


Jacques Henri Lartigue: The Invention of Happiness

2020 - Marsilio

Jacques Henri Lartigue, Denis Curti, Marion Perceval, Charles-Antoine Revol


Jacques Henri Lartigue

2019 - Flammarion

Jacques Henri Lartigue


Lartigue: Life in Color

2016 - Abrams

Jacques Henri Lartigue, Martine D'Astier, Martine Ravache

 

Lartigue: Album of a Century

2003 - Abrams

Jacques Henri Lartigue

 

Jacques Henri Lartigue, Photographer

1998 - Little, Brown & Company

Jacques Henri Lartigue, Vicki Goldberg

 

AAP Magazine Travels 2026
 

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