Autochromes - part 2

The Autochrome Lumière is an early colour photography process. Patented in 1903 by Lumière brothers in France and first marketed in 1907, it was the principal colour photography process in use before the advent of subtractive colour film in the mid-1930s.

This is part 2 of a 3-part series on Autochromes. For more information about Autochromes, and for more images, see part 1 also.

Belgian Autochromes

My thanks go Florent Van Hoof for allowing me to reproduce some of the wonderful Autochrome images from her splendid collection of Belgian Autochromists. If you are interested in Autochromes or would like to know more about Belgian Autochromes, please visit Florent’s collection at her website http://users.telenet.be/autochromes/introduction.htm

Alfonse Van Besten (1865 – 1926)

Van Besten was a painter and took full advantage of the possibilities of the new colour process, taken with a “painterly eye”.

1912c Alfonse Van Besten, Ancient Times. Collection of Florent Van Hoof

1911c Alfonse Van Besten, Civic and Military Garb.

1913c Alfonse Van Besten, Dahlias.

1913c Alfonse Van Besten, Fragility.

1912c Alfonse Van Besten, Groupe Antique Composition.

1912c Alfonse Van Besten, Innocence.

1911 Alfonse Van Besten, Lanciers Armée Belge

1913 Alfonse Van Besten, Ma Femme (Mrs. A. Van Besten).

1912c Alfonse Van Besten, Maiden with Butterfly on Flower.

1912c Alfonse Van Besten, Modesty.

1910c Alfonse Van Besten, Musing (Mrs. A. Van Besten).

1913 Alfonse Van Besten, Purity.

1913c Alfonse Van Besten, Still Life with Brown Fruit.

1912c Alfonse Van Besten, Two Girls Picking Cornflowers.

1912c Alfonse Van Besten, Washing and Bleaching.

1912c Alfonse Van Besten, Young Girl Amidst Marguerites.

Charles Corbet (1868 – 1936).

Charles Corbet was an accountant – all his autochromes were taken between 1909 and 1914.

1910c Charles Corbet, Dahlias.

1910c Charles Corbet, Girl Embracing Woman.

1910c Charles Corbet, Girl with Gun.

1910c Charles Corbet, Still life with Carnations and Poppies.

1910c Charles Corbet, Still Life with Decanter and Hat.

1010c Charles Corbet, Still Life with Statuette and Carnations.

1910c Charles Corbet, Still life with Vase and Flowers.

1910c Charles Corbet, Still Life with Vase and Roses.

1910c Charles Corbet, View of Montjoie / Monschau.

1910c Charles Corbet, Woman and Girl by a Brook.

Ernest van Zuylen (1886 – 1957)

Ernest van Zuylen took up photography from a young age, but it wasn’t until 1915 – 18, when staying in Holland, that he made many autochromes.

1917c Ernest van Zuylen, Still Life with Roses and Decorative Platter.

George Gilon (1873 – 1928)

George Gilon was a wool-trader at Verviers in Belgium. He was a passionate photographer and gifted wood-worker.

1913 Georges Gilon, Bouquet with Roses and Gladioli.

1913c Georges Gilon, Family Portrait at Roanny, Belgium.

1913c Georges Gilon, Portrait of Jeanne Nokin.

1913c Georges Gilon, Red and White Begonias.

Paul Sano (1874 – 1960)

Paul Sano was a General Practitioner in Antwerp, Belgium. His interest lay in exploring the limits of the autochrome process, creating collages, multiple exposures, and micro-photography.