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Photo-Transformation

A work made of manipulated internal dye diffusion print.

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  • A work made of manipulated internal dye diffusion print.

Date:

1973

Artist:

Lucas Samaras
American, 1936-2024

About this artwork

In 1973 the Polaroid company gave Lucas Samaras an SX-70 camera that produced a new kind of photograph— what came to be known simply as a Polaroid. It featured the so-called integral system, in which the photograph is developed and fixed without the intervention of the pho-tographer. While watching the image forming, Samaras determined that the film’s image-receiving layer remained highly malleable for several minutes after it is ejected from the camera. Taking advantage of this feature, he manipulated this layer in a variety of ways to transform his images, blurring photography, drawing, and painting. A marvel of engineering and chemistry, instant integral films can contain as many as 20 layers. Because of this structural complexity, there is often little a conservator can do to repair a work once it has been damaged.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Photography and Media

Artist

Lucas Samaras

Title

Photo-Transformation

Place

United States (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

Made 1973

Medium

Manipulated internal dye diffusion print

Inscriptions

Unmarked recto; verso unchecked

Dimensions

Image: 7.9 × 7.8 cm (3 1/8 × 3 1/8 in.); Paper: 10.8 × 8.8 cm (4 5/16 × 3 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Robert and Gayle Greenhill

Reference Number

1991.980

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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