About this artwork
The negative-positive process created by William Henry Fox Talbot, and the possibilities for reproduction that it introduced, dominated photography until the digital age. Talbot’s initial experiments show both his interest in science (as he worked to refine his process) and his artistic aspirations. Scholars have confirmed that Talbot took 10 or more views of chess players, yet this one—likely of noted photographer Antoine Claudet and Talbot’s assistant Nicolaas Henneman—may not be his. This print and other variants of the same scene are unsigned, and on a different paper from Talbot’s normal stock. Recent scholarship posits that the images might have been made in Claudet’s studio before ending up in Henneman’s possession; this print could have entered Talbot’s holdings when Henneman gave him prints as payment toward a debt.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Photography and Media
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Artist
- William Henry Fox Talbot
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Title
- The Chess Players
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Place
- England (Artist's nationality:)
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Date
- Made 1838–1852
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Medium
- Salted paper print
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Dimensions
- 19.9 × 15 cm (7 7/8 × 5 15/16 in.)
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Credit Line
- Purchased with funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. Everett Kovler
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Reference Number
- 1967.158
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/27083/manifest.json
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.
