Synopsis
In the secrecy of their workshop, a real time capsule that takes us back to the 19th century, the Fresson grandson and great-grandson are at work. Guardians of a legendary photographic process, they can spend up to two weeks on a single print.
An intimate film that offers insight into a technique, but also into a family of craftsmen who have been part of the history of photography for more than a century. A rare documentary that reveals the difficulty of preserving an art that is slow and fragile in a world addicted to speed, where digital and inkjet printers reign.
What you will learn in this film…
A unique printing process • Direct charcoal printing • The stages of a four-colour print • An entirely artisanal photographic printing workshop created by a carpenter • Seeing an image appear with Fresson know-how• Seeing retouching by hand • The Fresson workshop archives • Preparation of a colour based on pigments • Founder Théodore-Henri Fresson's great inventions • A craftsman-printer's tips
Linked Articles
The authors/artists
Further exploration
This content is for members only.
• BERNARD PLOSSU : WESTERN COLORS - author: Francis Hodgson ; 2016 ; Thames and Hudson Ltd
• EDGES - artist: Dolorès Marat ; 1996 ; Dewi Lewis Publishing
Wood enlarger • pigments • 90° alcohol • Dichromate • Sawdust • Pans • Fans • Gas lamp