Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Two Ways of Life (Hope in Repentance), 1857, Albumen silver print, Image: 21.8 x 40.8 cm (8 9/16 x 16 1/16 in.). Moderna Museet, Stockholm, EX.2019.5.36
Arte

J. Paul Getty Museum di Los Angeles e le fotografie del XIX secolo di Oscar G. Rejlander

Era interessato a ritrarre le persone comuni e ordinarie, come le ragazze che vendevano i fiori per strada, ma il fotografo Oscar G. Rejlander ci ha regalato anche scatti di volti celebri quali Lewis Carrol, la regina Vittoria, il principe Alberto, Julia Margaret Cameron, e Charles Darwin.

Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), 1863, Albumen silver print, Image: 8.9 x 5.9 cm (3 1/2 x 2 5/16 in.), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gilman Collection, Purchase, Sam Salz Foundation Gift, 2005 (2005.100.757). Image: www.metmuseum.org. EX.2019.5.146
Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), 1863, Albumen silver print, Image: 8.9 x 5.9 cm (3 1/2 x 2 5/16 in.), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gilman Collection, Purchase, Sam Salz Foundation Gift, 2005 (2005.100.757). Image: www.metmuseum.org. EX.2019.5.146

La mostra

La mostra Oscar Rejlander: Artist Photographer al J. Paul Getty Museum, Getty Center di Los Angeles ripercorre la produzione artistica del fotografo con 150 fotografie che vanno dai paesaggi e ritratti, alle allegorie e commenti spiritosi sulla società contemporanea, accanto a una selezione dei suoi primi dipinti, disegni e stampe. L’esposizione è a cura di Lori Pauli della National Gallery of Canada, e Karen Hellman del J. Paul Getty Museum.

Le sue fotografie, anche se fatte un secolo e mezzo fa, sono meticolosamente del loro tempo e senza tempo, prefigurando i seguenti numerosi risultati del medium fino all’era digitale.

Timothy Potts, direttore del J. Paul Getty Museum

Il fotografo

Oscar G. Rejlander nacque in Svezia nel 1813 e si trasferì in Inghilterra nel 1839. Iniziò la sua produzione artistica come pittore, ma nel 1852 si dedicò alla fotografia.

Il celebre fotografo non realizzò solo ritratti, ma sperimentò tecniche fotografiche come la stampa combinata, utilizzando diversi negativi esposti separatamente e stampati per formare un’unica immagine. Rejlander si trasferì a Londra nel 1862, dove riscosse numerosi successi lavorando a stretto contatto con sua moglie, Mary Bull.

Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, A “Set To”, 1855, In “Prince Albert’s Calotype Album,” vol. 2, about 1860, Salted paper print. Image: 15 x 21 cm (5 7/8 x 8 1/4 in.). Royal Collection Trust /© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019. EX.2019.5.89
Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, A “Set To”, 1855, In “Prince Albert’s Calotype Album,” vol. 2, about 1860, Salted paper print. Image: 15 x 21 cm (5 7/8 x 8 1/4 in.). Royal Collection Trust /© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019. EX.2019.5.89

Two Ways of Life

In mostra è possibile trovare la fotografia Two Ways of Life che, anche se godeva del sostegno della famiglia reale, divise la comunità fotografica: da una parte i fotografi professionisti che la considerarono un’impresa tecnica, e dall’altra i “non addetti ai lavori” che la ritennero non solo artificiale nella produzione ma anche immorale nella sua materia.

Nonostante i pareri discordanti rimane uno dei migliori esempi di stampa combinata dell’epoca.

Una selezione di fotografie

  • Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Study of Hands, 1856, Albumen silver print. Image: 14.8 x 17.6 cm (5 13/16 x 6 15/16 in.), National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Purchased 2014 (46254). Photo: NGC. EX.2019.5.6
    Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Study of Hands, 1856, Albumen silver print. Image: 14.8 x 17.6 cm (5 13/16 x 6 15/16 in.), National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa. Purchased 2014 (46254). Photo: NGC. EX.2019.5.6
  • Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, The Cup that Cheers, about 1860, Albumen silver print. Image: 19.9 x 15 cm (7 13/16 x 5 7/8 in.). Princeton University Art Museum. Museum purchase, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Max Adler. EX.2019.5.100
    Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, The Cup that Cheers, about 1860, Albumen silver print. Image: 19.9 x 15 cm (7 13/16 x 5 7/8 in.). Princeton University Art Museum. Museum purchase, gift of Mr. and Mrs. Max Adler. EX.2019.5.100
  • Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Non Angeli sed Angli (Not Angels but Anglos), after Raphael’s Sistine Madonna, about 1854–1856, Albumen silver print. Image: 20.5 x 26.3 cm (8 1/16 x 10 3/8 in.), Princeton University Art Museum. Museum purchase, David H. McAlpin, Class of 1920, Fund. EX.2019.5.91
    Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Non Angeli sed Angli (Not Angels but Anglos), after Raphael’s Sistine Madonna, about 1854–1856, Albumen silver print. Image: 20.5 x 26.3 cm (8 1/16 x 10 3/8 in.), Princeton University Art Museum. Museum purchase, David H. McAlpin, Class of 1920, Fund. EX.2019.5.91
  • Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Mary Constable and Her Brother, 1866, Albumen silver print. Image: 16.8 x 22.1 cm (6 5/8 x 8 11/16 in.), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gilman Collection, Purchase, Harriette and Noel Levine Gift, 2005 (2005.100.24). Image: www.metmuseum.org. EX.2019.5.145
    Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Mary Constable and Her Brother, 1866, Albumen silver print. Image: 16.8 x 22.1 cm (6 5/8 x 8 11/16 in.), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gilman Collection, Purchase, Harriette and Noel Levine Gift, 2005 (2005.100.24). Image: www.metmuseum.org. EX.2019.5.145
  • Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Hard Times (The Out of Work Workman’s Lament), 1860, Albumen silver print. Image: 13.8 x 19.7 cm (5 7/16 x 7 3/4 in.), George Eastman Museum, purchase. Photo: Courtesy of the George Eastman Museum. EX.2019.5.109
    Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Hard Times (The Out of Work Workman’s Lament), 1860, Albumen silver print. Image: 13.8 x 19.7 cm (5 7/16 x 7 3/4 in.), George Eastman Museum, purchase. Photo: Courtesy of the George Eastman Museum. EX.2019.5.109
  • Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Ariadne, 1857, Albumen print from a wet collodion negative. Image (rounded top): 20.4 x 15.5 cm (8 1/16 x 6 1/8 in.), National Gallery of Art, Washington, Paul Mellon Fund, 2007.29.38. EX.2019.5.47
    Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Ariadne, 1857, Albumen print from a wet collodion negative. Image (rounded top): 20.4 x 15.5 cm (8 1/16 x 6 1/8 in.), National Gallery of Art, Washington, Paul Mellon Fund, 2007.29.38. EX.2019.5.47
  • Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Eh!, negative about 1854–1855; print about 1865, Albumen silver print. Image: 8.9 x 5.9 cm (3 1/2 x 2 5/16 in.), The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. 84.XM.845.14
    Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Eh!, negative about 1854–1855; print about 1865, Albumen silver print. Image: 8.9 x 5.9 cm (3 1/2 x 2 5/16 in.), The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. 84.XM.845.14
  • Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist, about 1860, Albumen silver print. Image (arched): 17.8 x 12.4 cm (7 x 4 7/8 in.), The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. 84.XM.845.1
    Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist, about 1860, Albumen silver print. Image (arched): 17.8 x 12.4 cm (7 x 4 7/8 in.), The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. 84.XM.845.1

Immagine in evidenza: Oscar Gustaf Rejlander, British, born Sweden, 1813–1875, Two Ways of Life (Hope in Repentance), 1857, Albumen silver print, Image: 21.8 x 40.8 cm (8 9/16 x 16 1/16 in.). Moderna Museet, Stockholm, EX.2019.5.36