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Judy and All,
Judy, You wrote:-
''For what it's
worth, I saw a portfolio of Metzner's Fressons when she
spoke to a class a
friend was teaching at Cooper Union some years ago. I'm
probably a clod, but
I didn't get the thrill -- perhaps less fault of the
process than the
photographs, which struck me as ordinary. I add, FWIW,
that from where I
stood (off to one side) I noticed a white haze over part
of one background
and asked about it. Metzner hadn't noticed it, but upon
examination recalled
she'd said the area looked dark, so they'd apparently
added a thin white
layer.
Judy''
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I have in my
possession a 16'' X 20'' Fresson print which was rejected by the company who
commissioned it several years ago. The print was paid for and then thrown out in
the garbage. They said it did not meet their expectations. I can see
nothing about the print which is objectionable. It looks exactly like a
matt surfaced bromide. But maybe that is what the company did not want.
The print has no apparent grain. It does not have the ''pointillistic
painterly'' character so much admired. There is fantastic
detail and tone gradation on a smooth paper base and it does not
look AT ALL like an Echague. But it is a Fresson print all the
same.
Re.
the ''white haze'' in the Metzner print. I suggest that more probably it was
achieved by the brush removal of some pigment whilst development took
place showing the base colour of the paper support. Direct Carbon does allow for
retouching to a great degree both by adding or removing pigment, or
both. The effectiveness of this, of course, depends on the skilll of
the worker. So here we are discussing just two examples of what
could be considered crap prints for totally different reasons appart from
considering whether the subjects of the prints were attractive or
interesting.
Can you
remember what the Metzner subject was? The print I have contains much
fine detail of a leather workers workshop. The subject does not bring out
the notable aspects of Direct Carbon, but still it is very
archival.
More later. Regards
John- Photographist - London - UK
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