Victorian Glamour Photography - By: Irene Forde

In the 19th centuries the classical arts were very much
admired; sculptures and paintings showing the naked body were
the major part of art gallery and museum exhibitions. However
the Victorians were very strict on morality, and in the family
home a portrait of the Queen, a framed religious tract or a
landscape print would be the normal pictures to grace their
sitting room. No nudes here!

Soon after the invention of the photographic process by Daguerre
in the 1830's the first nude photographs were created. These
early photographs were intended to provide good reference
material for painters and sculptors. Many of the early nude
photographs were posed in the manner of classic oil paintings to
make them more acceptable to critics of this art form.

This new technology of photography was quickly taken up by
artists eager for new ways to illustrate the undraped feminine
form - and to make a lot of money! In the moral climate of the
19th century the only officially sanctioned photography of the
body was for the production of artist's studies. However many
were produced as erotic images for the 'discerning gentleman.'

The reality of the photographic image was considered quite ugly
at this time, so the closer the photographer could make the
photograph resemble a classical painting the less likely he was
to be accused of creating something obscene. The model who was
willing to pose unclothed was considered immoral, and
'respectable' women rarely posed in the nude during the early
days of photography.

The technical process in the early years required extremely long
exposures, so the nude model often had to stay extremely still
for up to ten minutes while the shutter remained open. The pose
of the model was often contrived. Theatrical settings were used
- the chaise-longue covered in heavy brocade, floral drapes,
large classical urns and other paraphernalia were used to set
the scene.

One picture could cost a week's salary, so the audience for
nudes mostly consisted of artists and the upper echelon of
society. The French pioneered erotic photography, producing nude
postcards, so named because of their size, although they were
never meant to be postally sent as this was illegal. Nude
photographs were marketed in a monthly magazine called the "La
Beaute" that targeted artists looking for poses. Each issue
contained 75 nude images which could be ordered by mail, in the
form of postcards, hand-tinted or sepia toned. Street dealers,
tobacco shops, and a variety of other vendors bought the
photographs for resale to American tourists and servicemen.

The emergence of the glamorous pin-up photograph came about
because not only was the female form revealed in all its
splendour, but it also allowed the model a chance to put her own
personality into the picture. Often, burlesque actresses were
hired as models and semi-nude photographs appeared on the cover
of publications and throughout; while these would now be termed
softcore, they were quite shocking for the time. Later on
publications masquerading as "art magazines" or publications
celebrated the new cult of naturism, with titles such as Photo
Bits, Body in Art, Figure Photography, Nude Living and Modern
Art for Men. Health and Efficiency, started in 1900, was a
typical naturist magazine in Britain.

In this way the nude photograph caused a sexual response from
the viewer as well as an appreciation of the artistry of the
picture. Erotic postcards enjoyed considerable popularity at the
turn of the 20th century. They could always be obtained, by
those in the know, from suppliers in every walk of life who were
out to make money from a profitable trade.

The majority of the pin-up cards were mild by today's standards.
They were created to show a pleasing image which would entertain
and stimulate the viewer. These images have innocence about
them. Although often saucy, they were not the blatant images
seen in the top-shelf magazines around today.

In spite of the contrived coy poses of the models these vintage
photographs have great charm. The use of a primitive lens, slow
film and daylight studios created a luminous quality which any
glamour photographers would be happy to achieve in their work
today.

In the 19th centuries the classical arts were very much
admired; sculptures and paintings showing the naked body were
the major part of art gallery and museum exhibitions. However
the Victorians were very strict on morality, and in the family
home a portrait of the Queen, a framed religious tract or a
landscape print would be the normal pictures to grace their
sitting room. No nudes here!

Irene Forde is a writer and publisher of Books and CDs.
http://www.glamour-girls-on-cd.com