Historical Review of Plastics used in Photographs
Channel: AIC & FAIC
Date: 2016-08-19

By Sylvie Pénichon, Department of Photography, Art institute of Chicago
From the Plastics Associated with Photographic Materials symposium

Abstract: Plastics have pervaded every aspect of our lives and photographs are no exception. Since the early days of photography, plastics have been closely associated and used in photographs as binders, substrates, coatings, and now, image materials. This presentation will briefly survey the evolution of photographic materials and plastics associated with them, from the daguerreotype era to the digital age.

Speaker bio: Sylvie Pénichon is a conservator of photographs at the Art institute of Chicago. Sylvie has published and lectured extensively on the conservation and preservation of photographs in the US and abroad. She is the author of Twentieth-Century Color Photographs: Identification and Care, a comprehensive guide to understand processes, techniques, and materials used to produce color photographs during the last century. A graduate of New York
University conservation program, Sylvie is a professional associate of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) and currently serves as Chair of its Photographic Materials Group.