Artwork
Bronze mirror
Bronze mirror is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist Louise Laffon. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Louise Laffon made this photograph between 1863 and 1864. It’s part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection. The museum started buying photos in the 1850s to help artists and students learn.
The V&A was the first museum to show photographs in 1858. Henry Cole, the director, thought photos could teach people about art and the world.
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Overview
This photograph, titled 'Bronze mirror', is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection, acquired in the mid-19th century as part of an initiative to utilize photography for educational purposes.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of the photograph is a bronze mirror, originally part of the Campana Collection in the Musée Napoléon III (now the Louvre). The image was intended to provide artists and students with detailed visual access to the object.
Technique & Style
The photograph was produced by Louise Laffon, a member of Le Société Française de la Photographie, using the gil printing process. The technique, though not widely discussed in this context, suggests an emphasis on clarity and detail to serve its educational purpose.
History & Provenance
Created between 1863 and 1864, the photograph was purchased by the V&A in 1864 as part of a larger set of 500 works from Laffon's series on the Campana Collection, facilitated by the agent Monsieur E. Cappe.
Context
The acquisition reflects the V&A's pioneering role in collecting and exhibiting photography (since 1858) under Director Henry Cole, who recognized photography's potential to extend the museum's educational resources.
Artist & collection
Artist
Louise Laffon (1828–1885), was a French photographer and painter. She was one of the first female professional photographers in France. She had a studio in Paris between 1859 and 1876.
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