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“Who Got There First?”: Fox Talbot vs. Daguerre in a New Exhibition

17th March 2023

Words The Observer

17th March 2023

Read Time: 4 minutes

William Henry Fox Talbot and Louis Daguerre were both pioneers in the development of photography in the 19th century. However, their approaches to the medium were quite different. Talbot was an English scientist who is best known for his development of the ‘calotype’ process, whereas Daguerre was a French artist known for his invention of the ‘daguerreotype’. Curated by prominent art historian Geoffrey Batchen, a new exhibition at the Bodleian Libraries’ in Oxford proves it was Fox Talbot’s invention of the negative that paved the way for photographs to be reproduced on a large scale.

The ‘Bright Sparks: Photography and the Talbot Archive’ exhibition celebrates the Bodleian Libraries’ acquisition of the Fox Talbot archive, and the legacy of his life and work. The exhibition will run from 17 March until 18 June 2023. Earlier this week, Arts and Media Correspondent, Vanessa Thorpe, wrote a fascinating piece for the Observer on photography’s invention race. Find out more here.

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