Exploring the 1850s Photographic Inventions and the Birth of a New Genre
Disdéri’s photographic cards
André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri (1819–1889) was a self-taught photographic artist located in France. Disdéri is most renowned for his ground breaking creation of the ‘carte de visite’, a modestly sized photograph mounted on a card which transformed the photography industry.
In the 1850s, Disdéri embarked on his career as a portrait photographer in Paris, swiftly gaining recognition as a skilled and inventive artist. His studio gained popularity among the affluent and well-known, resulting in high demand for his portraits. Nevertheless, the most significant contribution Disdéri made to the photography field was his invention of the carte de visite, a photography format akin to the modern poloriad.
The carte de visite marked a significant shift away from conventional portrait photography, which typically involved large glass plates. Disdéri’s innovation made photography more accessible and affordable, quickly gaining popularity among the broader public. The concept behind the carte de visite was straightforward yet effective. Disdéri employed a unique camera capable of capturing multiple exposures on a single glass plate, which he then divided into individual photographs. These photos were mounted on cards, facilitating easy…
