Reflections on the Material History and Materiality of Photographic Gelatine

This paper discusses the material history of photographic gelatine and argues that gelatine's material agency or characteristics has a direct link to the employment of gelatine in photography. A distinction between the types of gelatine such as size, glue and grade is briefly discussed and the history and manufacturing of photographic grade gelatines is contextualised. The progression of the implementation of gelatine for photographic purposes in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries is illustrated and the physiognomies that support gelatine emulsion-making are explored. Finally, this paper illustrates the relationship between distinctions in the material characteristics of various gelatine photographic papers and the role that these play in photo history and in the marketplace.