Dear friends,
I am presently starting my research about photographic associations in XIX / early XX centuries. In fact, it is my intention to focus it in one of the oldest associations of Spain (Agrupació Fotogràfica de Catalunya founded in 1923). It would be very important to study the European trends and especially the situation in England and France, where photography was born and became a fine art. I think that England was at that time the center of an important movement that improved the technique and artistic achievements of photography through the constitution of photographic associations. In the beginning of XX century this tendency reached other countries such as Spain, where similar organizations were founded.
In this research I found some information in general books about the Royal Photographic Society and other smaller groups such as the Linked Ring. However, I cannot find more detailed information in Spain about this subject. Do you know if there is any publication about it? Is there any possibility to contact the Royal Photographic Society to get any help?
Any possible indication would be highly appreciated.
Best regards,
Victoria
Replies
There is an important group of photographers in Madrid in the beginning of XX century organizing international salons and I will have to ask for information there in the future. However, now I am trying to find out the origin of this movement in England and France because it is there where these societies began in XIX century.
Thank you for your help. I will keep your references for the future.
Best regards,
Victoria
Matthew Mawson said:
Dear Michael,
Thank you very much for your answer. Yes, I have to be more specific and, as this is part of a Master in History of Arts, I will go to the university next Monday in order to speak with the corresponding professor. I will try to better define my research and contact you at your e-mail address next week.
As you say, there is very little written about photographic societies and it is hard to find references.
Best regards,
Victoria
Michael Pritchard said:
Dear Terry,
Thank you very much for your answer. I will keep on searching new groups.
Terry King said:
I have an exhibition catalogue from 'Il Salon Internacional de Fotografia', Madrid, 1922. I know the Salon ran for a lot of years and attracted an international crowd of exibitors from all over the World, including France and England. Some of the spanish exhibitors are familiar names from the UK salons (RPS & London Salon), especially Jose Ortiz Echague.
I know there is some archive material connected to this era of photography in Madrid, try the Circulo de Bellas Artes and the Biblioteca Nacional de Espana (ww.bne.es).
Links from the catalogue:
Conde de la Ventosa - Real Sociedad Fotografia
Antonio Victory - Real Sociedad Fotografia
Jose Padro - Union Fotografica
Jose Ortiz Echague - Secretario del Salon Internacional de Fotografia (Madrid, 1922)
Matthew
HI.. can you be a little more specific? Are you interested the art associations and camera clubs and societies? I gave a seminar on the latter recently and can send my notes to you which include some references. Basically, there has been very little written about these beyond some short histories and it is an area that I have been researching recently in some more detail. Free free to contact me off-line at michael@mpritchard.com
I suggest asking this question on the PhotoHistory discussion list where there are a number of people with expertise specific to the history of photography in Spain.