Antiquarian Avant-Garde
As artists, collectors and museum curators began to rediscover the history of photography in the 1970s, a deeper interest developed in 19th century photographs and the processes used to create them. This interest has grown steadily over the years to the extent that thousands of artists from all over the world are now producing original images and extending the possibilities for their practice through nineteenth century techniques. A quick overview of web sites, published books and journals dedicated to old photographic processes, as well as recent exhibitions such as the 'Adam Fuss Retrospective' at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston attests to this phenomenon. Collectively, these contemporary photographers are sometimes called the 'antiquarian avant-garde.' But why return to these archaic techniques, especially in the wake of the digital revolution in photography? Perhaps because any return to first principles, whether in art or culture, inevitably carries political implications. It involves a turning away from complexity and sophistication in favor of energy and potential disorder, from which new orders can emerge.

Many of the artists using old techniques have resorted to manuals published in the 19th century to find particular formulations and procedures. However, these artists aren't pursuing some kind of romanticism. They are familiar with historical conventions and traditions, but they want to use the techniques to suit their purpose, the constant opening up of possibilities within the context of the present. An attraction of many of the old processes, like the daguerrotype or wet collodian, is that they deliver instant gratification. The image is developed, examined on the spot and then the artist moves on. A dialogue is thus created between what has just been made and what is to be made next.

This site, 'The Crafted Photograph,' discusses the work of Chuck Close, Adam Fuss and Sally Mann in relation to their use of nineteenth century techniques. These artists are more interested in what might be done than in the processes for their own sake.Their work pushes the boundaries of what photography can be, reminding us that photography is prized equally for its ability to capture reality as well as to trancend that reality.