The “Eeuw van de fotografie” or “Century of Photography” is a term used to describe the period from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century when photography experienced rapid growth and development. During this time, photography evolved from a niche hobby practiced by a few enthusiasts to a widely used medium that transformed the way we see and understand the world.
The invention of photography is credited to Frenchman Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, who created the first permanent photograph in 1826. However, it was his partner Louis Daguerre who perfected the process with the development of the daguerreotype in 1839. This revolutionary new medium allowed people to capture and preserve images in a way that had never been possible before.
One of the key developments in the “Eeuw van de fotografie” was the introduction of the Kodak camera by George Eastman in 1888. This affordable and easy-to-use camera made photography accessible to the masses and sparked a new wave of interest in the medium. As a result, photography quickly became a popular pastime and a powerful tool for documenting and sharing the world around us.
During this time, photography also became an important art form with the emergence of photographers such as Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and Dorothea Lange. These photographers used their cameras to capture the beauty of the natural world, the struggles of everyday life, and the social and political issues of their time. Their work not only helped to shape our understanding of the world but also inspired future generations of photographers to push the boundaries of the medium.
The “Eeuw van de fotografie” also saw the development of new techniques and technologies that revolutionized the way we create and consume images. From the introduction of color photography to the rise of digital technology, photographers have continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible with a camera.
Today, photography continues to be a powerful medium for capturing and communicating the world around us. While the “Eeuw van de fotografie” may have come to an end, its legacy lives on in the work of photographers around the world who continue to push the boundaries of the medium and explore new ways of seeing and understanding the world.