Baron Adolph De Meyer Autochrome Photography Analysis

Improved Essays
This photograph, taken in 1908, is of famous ballerina Tamara Karsavina, and was made by a notable photographer named Baron Adolph de Meyer. This image is an excellent example of modern photography and the technology involved during this rapidly changing and evolving time. Meyer was a Pictorialist photographer who was attempting to elevate photographic portraits to the same level of painted portraits. This is an example of early autochrome photography, which is a very rare, modern revelation, which was the first effective and popular form of colour photography. Because of the rarity of autochromes, this image is particularly important, as not many of this type of photograph remain in good condition, today. This photograph can be read as a precursor to Meyer’s later work as a fashion photographer.
This autochrome photograph, created by Baron Adolph de Meyer is a coloured photograph, and makes use of mostly cool colours; primarily shades of blues and greens. The cool tones of the green foliage and the dark coloured dress create contrast with the purple flowers and the red fabric that is draped over the bench. The photographer used natural light when shooting the photograph, creating an even
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Karsavina was born in Russia on March 10th, 1885 and died May 26th, 1978 . She was a ballerina in the Russian Imperial Ballet and then later, in 1909, she joined the Ballets Russes in Paris, which is where she met and was photographed by Meyer. Her most notable ballet rolls include Lise in La FIlle Mal Gardée, Medora in Le Corsaire, and the lead roll in The Firebird . She was widely acclaimed for her dance techniques, as well as her ability to express fierce emotion through movement . Even after she retired from dance, Karsavina was still very evolved in the ballet community. She acted as the Vice-President of the Royal Academy of Dancing from 1946 until 1955, as well as also coaching and advising for the Royal Ballet

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