Robert Demachy

Robert Leon Demachy (* July 7, 1859 in Saint- Germain -en- Laye, † December 29, 1936 in Hennequeville, Calvados ) was a French banker, photographer, painter and writer. He is one of the pictorialists.

Life and work

Demachy was before he became famous in the 1890s with his photographs, banker and amateur artists. He is mainly known for his nudes and landscapes. His photographic motifs but also included people in general, movement and street scenes. He wrote numerous articles on photography and written several books. Demachy sat often with the importance of photography as an art form apart.

Characteristic properties of his photographic works are strong shadows, dramatic light and blurred transitions between people and the environment. In addition, he worked intensively with techniques in the darkroom and finishing of prints, so he painted many of his photographs simply. He also experimented with rubber and oil printing processes. In the magazine Camera Work Demachy wrote from 1904 to 1907 numerous contributions to retouch and precious printing process.

Robert Demachy was a founding member of the Photo- Club de Paris, member of the London Brotherhood of the Linked Ring and the New York Photo-Secession.

Publications by Robert Demachy (selection)

• Robert Demachy, Alfred Maskell: Photo- Aquatint or the gum bichromate process. London 1897
• Robert Demachy, Constant Puyo: Les Procédés d' Art in photography. Paris 1906