“Lying on a raised dais, this woman may have been the concubine of an affluent opium smoker.” (1915)
In 1909 the millionaire French banker and philanthropist Albert Kahn embarked on an ambitious project to create a colour photographic record of, and for, the peoples of the world. As an idealist and an internationalist, Kahn believed that he could use the new Autochrome process, the world’s first user-friendly, true-colour photographic system, to promote cross-cultural peace and understanding. More.
More Albert Kahn Autochromes and similar early views in colour at this Flickr pool.
Update: And there’s The Wonderful World of Albert Kahn, site and book.
The Palais du Trocadéro from the Eiffel Tower (1912).
Previously on { feuilleton }
• The Palais du Trocadéro
• The Dawn of the Autochrome
• German opium smokers, 1900
Great post! I’ve just recently started exploring early color photography, and early photography in general. Fascinating.
You can also find out more on the new Albert Kahn website – http://www.albertkahn.co.uk
Thanks Katie, I’ve also added a link above. The book looks essential.