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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:

July 30, 1976

Artist:

Lucas Samaras
American, born 1936

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 1976

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: 10.7 × 8.8 cm (4 1/4 × 3 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds provided by The Polaroid Corporation

Reference Number

1989.110

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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