Photographs on fabric collection.

      Forms part of Photographic History Collection, 1839-present.

       Described by Shannon Perich
Photographs on cloth appeared in the early development of photography, as early as the 1840s and 1850s. The finished product varied, but the ever-popular souvenir pillow circulated widely, and was most often made of pastel or white cotton sateen. The images were usually portraits, but sometimes landscape, and architecture was used to decorate the fabric. Silver based images were usually imprinted on fabric, as well as, iron-based images that yielded a blue color (cyanotypes). Sir John Herschel discovered the cyanotype process circa 1840. The cyanotype is formed when the photographic paper is coated with an emulsion of iron and salt, which creates a blue-tinted image. This process was not used widely as a final format process until it become popular the early 1900s. Amateur photographers started using the cyanotype process because of its low cost and easy processing. Likewise, cyanotypes on fabric only became popular in the late 19th century when they were used as home decorative and novelty objects. Cyanotypes on fabric were used as sheets, lampshades, pillows, blankets, quilts, and other interesting home decorative elements. The portrait pillow was part of Kodak's marketing known as ‘blueprint linen’ from 1885 to 1910.

Collection consists of 2 cyanotypes on fabric, 2 photographs imprinted on fabric on pillowcases, 11 photographs on silk, 1 silverprint on fabric, 2 photographs on canvas.
  • Cat. # 1996.0373.1 Photograph on fabric, woman and dog sitting on roof. Woman is wearing a hat and a large bow tie around her neck. Bushes are in the background.
  • Cat. # 66-1 Photograph on a pillowcase. The image is a family group portrait. The woman is standing with the man to her left. The man is sitting and to his left is the boy standing with his hand on his waist. Woman’s left hand is on the man’s shoulder. Subjects in the image are members of the donor’s family.
  • Cat. # 74.31 Nine cyanotypes on fabric, sewn together with lace border. The nine related images all seem to depict the same wooded resort area: shown are trees, groups of buildings (including cabins?), outdoor tables, benches arranged outdoors as for a meeting or entertainment, hammocks, and people wearing 1890s clothing. One building entrance bears the name "Snow-Bound." Location is probably the grounds of the Canaan Pine Grove Association, Inc. in Falls Village, Ct., a Methodist retreat.
  • Cat. # PG * 74.32 Photograph imprinted on a pillow covering with hand made trim. The pillow is housed separately. Image is a portrait of a girl and a woman, circa 1890s. The woman is seated with a locket around her neck. The girl is standing and has a locket pin.
  • Cat. # 77.39.1 Photograph imprinted on silk, fringed. A domestic Japanese scene of two women at well dressed in kimonos.
  • Cat. # 77.39.2 Photograph imprinted on silk, fringed. A Japanese woman holding a parasol and dressed in a kimono.
  • Cat. # 77.39.3 Photograph imprinted, silk fringe. Image of an ornately decorated urn.
  • Cat. # 77.39.4 Photograph imprinted on silk, fringed. Image of an ornately decorated standing bowl. Bowl is supported by a stem and foot. The stem is decorated with four cherubic shaped images.
  • Cat. # 77.39.5 Photograph imprinted on silk, fringed. Image of a house and 2 men. One man is working in the foreground on the front lawn and the second man is walking up the driveway to the front door of the house.
  • Cat. # 77.39.6 Photograph imprinted on silk, fringed. Image of an ornately decorated wine decantur.
  • Cat. #: 77.39.7 Photograph imprinted on silk, fringed. Image of a Victorian style house with a very large tree in the left foreground. Two people are under the tree. One person is sitting in the chair and the other is standing.
  • Cat. #: 77.39.8 Photograph imprinted on silk, fringed. Image of a horse. Only the horse's head and neck is showing, as it is leaning down to eat from the ground.
  • Cat. # 77.39.9 Photograph imprinted on silk, fringed. Image of at least eleven classically dressed figures sitting on stone benches listening to a winged figure speak.
  • Cat. # 77.39.10 Photograph imprinted on silk, fringed. Image of an urn with an ornamental foot or pedestal, and has two small side handles. On the front of the urn is a painted scene of a semi-nude woman.
  • Cat. # 77.48 Photograph on silk. A portrait of woman, probably late 19th century.
  • Cat. # 71.2 Cyanotype on fabric of nine scenes that are all connecting images sewn together. Various scenes of buildings, houses, and trees.
  • Cat. # 1786 Photograph on fabric, intricate design. The design is of a rectangle in the middle surrounded by interlocking cross shaped designs. The colors are a faded white and peach.
  • Cat. # 1787 Photograph on fabric, intricate design. The design is of a red rectangle in the middle surrounded by interlocking red cross shaped designs on yellow background with a red border. Both the yellow and red colors are faded.
  • Cat. # 829 Photograph on fabric. Image is of a chariot race in the Roman Coliseum. The central focus is on a four horse team with the rider being dragged on the ground as his chariot topples over. Other chariot racers are rearing to slow down their horses.
  • Cat. # 881-A photograph on canvas of a bearded man.
  • Cat. # 881-B photograph on canvas of a bearded man.