Photograms
Directions: Answer the questions
listed on a separate piece of
paper, and turn in when
completed.
The History
• The photogram technique is at least as old as the
existence of photosensitive surfaces.
• The real breakthrough for the photogram constitutes the
discovery of x-rays by Conrad Röntgen.
• In the arts, the photogram was explored rather late, after
the first World War.
• The name “photogram” was introduced and established
by László Moholy-Nagy in 1925.
• With respect to Christian Schad and Man Ray who used
the technique before Moholy-Nagy, sometimes the
technique is also called “schadography” or “rayograph”.
Questions
• 1. What is a photogram?
• 2. How do you make a photogram?
• 3. Who invented the photogram process?
Basically….
• The photogram is a highly
differentiated shadow picture fixed
directly on a light sensitive surface.
Actually…
• Almost everybody gets in touch with the
photogram for the first time during a
check-up with his doctor
• An x-ray is essentially a photogram.
• It is a fixed shadow of a three-dimensional
object on a light-sensitive material.
You know..
• Conceptually there is a controversy as to
whether the photogram is merely an
experimental camera-less branch of
photography, or if it constitutes its own
medium.
Questions
• 4. Do you think a photogram is a type of
photograph, or is it a separate art form?
• 5. Why do you think so?
6. What do you need to make a
photogram?
The one’s who paved the
way….
Christian Schad
7. What are the
defining qualities of
Christian Schad’s
work? (What do
these images have
in common?)
Man Ray
8. Man Ray is the most
famous photogram artist, and
was part of the Dada art
movement. What is Dadaism?
(Look it up on the computer!)
~Examples of Photograms~
Other artists
Emilio Amero - 1932
Markus Amm - 1999
Marcel Bovis – 1945-50
Nino Migliori
Gyorgy Kepes
Art Criticism
9. Which photogram artist did you
like the best? Why?
10. Complete a 4 part art criticism
(4 paragraphs – using the handout)
about your favorite photogram
image.
Artists and images found on:
• www.photograms.net
• Look up other photogram artists on this
website for inspiration for your own work