Born in Paris in 1922, Robert Doisneau is one of France’s most noted photographers. During his long career, his poetic approach to street photography recorded French everyday life in often playful and surreal images. Always charmed by his subjects, he enjoyed finding amusing juxtapositions or oddities of human nature. He photographed a vast span of people and events, often juxtaposing conformist and maverick elements in images marked by an exquisite sense of humour, by anti-establishment values, and, above all, by his deeply felt humanism.
The Collotype, invented in France approximately 150 years ago, stands as a pillar of quality and versatility in the history of photographic prints. Artists can achieve an enormous range of aesthetic possibilities with the help of highly-skilled master printers. We are deeply honoured to be able to present in collotype six works within this special mini-portfolio. From accordionists, lovers and artists, Doisneau’s photographs infuse images of daily life with poetic nuance. Carefully hand printed in black and white by the craftsmen of Benrido Atelier in Kyoto Japan, we are grateful to have the opportunity to express in collotype the unique and anecdotal account of Doisneau’s Paris.
Edition: Open Edition
Design: Benrido, Inc.
Number of works: 6 black and white collotype prints
Medium: Collotype prints
Published: 2021
Print Size: 25.4 x 20.3cm
Case Size: 20.6 x 25.8 x 0.8cm
Copyright:
Collotype Portfolio Printed & Published by Benrido, Inc.
© 2021 Atelier Robert Doisneau/Contact
About Benrido Collotype Atelier
In the 1880s, the collotype printing process was introduced to Kyoto and in 1905 Benrido began producing collotypes. Collotype is one of the earliest forms of printing techniques and was invented in France in 1855 by Alphonse Poitevin as a method for photographic fine art printing. Due to the high level of print and archival quality, it has since been used primarily as a way to reproduce and preserve Japan’s National Treasures and cultural properties. Today Benrido Collotype Atelier remains as one of only a few studios left in the world capable of producing fine colour collotype prints.