La Photographie en France, textes & controverses, une anthologie, 1816 – 1871 | André Rouillé
An invaluable resource for anyone interested in researching the early decades of photography in France. The book is a collection of period publications featuring the leading figures and texts from the bulletins of the French Photographic Society and the numerous periodicals and books of the time. It provides a good overview of the controversies surrounding photography’s hybrid status between art and science, as well as its commercial aspects and impact on society.
Rouillé provided an introduction for each text, highlighting how it fits into the broader discussion. Often, the articles are only excerpts from the original works. However, much of the material presented has now been digitized, making it very easy to use the book as a gateway to learn about some of the key figures and conduct more in-depth research.