A Silver Gelatin DOP Sample Book and a Characteristic Catalogue of the Edward Weston Collection at George Eastman House

With the maturation of the fine art photographic market, questions are asked about characteristic aspects of individual prints. Currently, judgments involving consistency in paper type, mounting method, inscription placement, stamping style, etc., within a photographer's work, are made upon fragmentary or anecdotal evidence. Without comprehensive examination and documentation of a particular photographer's oeuvre, judgments cannot be reasonably made by either the conservator or the curator/collector. 

This research project consists of creating a sample book of gelatin developing-out papers to facilitate the characterizing of paper types. This will help establish a standardized methodology for viewing a multitude of photographs. A characterizing catalogue was organized using a "profiler" along with the sample book to record significant photographic characteristics of the Edward Weston Collection at the George Eastman House. This comprehensive examination and documentation of the Edward Weston Collection was presented in a database format.

Copyright Tania Passafiume