Françoise Cartier
Wait and See

ExpandFavorite

Artist Françoise Cartier(Swiss, born 1952)Swiss, born 1952

Artist Daniel Cartier(Swiss, born 1950)Swiss, born 1950

CultureSwiss

Titles

Wait and See

Date2011

MediumGelatin silver paper

DimensionsSheet (each): 3 1/2 × 2 1/2 in. (8.9 × 6.4 cm)
Mount: 11 3/4 × 16 in. (29.8 × 40.6 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by Joan Morgenstern

Object number2012.310

Not on view

Explore Further

Department

Photography

Object Type

PHOTOGRAPHS

DescriptionFor the series Wait and See, artists f&d cartier collect expired photographic papers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Exhibiting the papers without any chemical fixing, they “wait and see” how light transforms the papers from shades of white into ever-shifting palettes of red, blue, gray, and everything in between— saturated colors that feel decadently shocking coming from old, black-and-white papers. If viewers have enough patience, they can watch the photographs (when exhibited) slowly change before their eyes, but this might take hours. Made without the use of a camera or even basic darkroom chemistry, this photographic work is tied entirely to the process of light changing the surface of the paper.
ProvenanceThe work was created in 2011 and sent from the artists to the museum for purchase in 2012
Exhibition HistoryLes Journées photographiques de Bienne in Switzerland
At the Musée Neuhaus in Bienne from September 1st to September 26, 2011

“Shadows on the Wall: Cameraless Photography from 1851 to Today” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, August 31– November 30, 2014.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Recto, in pencil, along lower right margin, four columns of text, each column comprised of two numbered captions relating to the prints above; the fifth and final column of text has only a single numbered caption, and the photographer's signature appears above this fifth and final column of text.

From left to right, top to bottom:

140 M. BAUCHET & Cie Rueil F. / NORMA, I(?) BROMURE – 1900
102 LUMIERE – Paris/Lyon / LYPA 67 – Bromiere d'arg. – 1915

145 CRUMIERE – Paris / ARDEX AM 11 Med. 3 / – 1900
144 CRUMIERE, PARIS / SUV II – 1900

146 CRUMIERE, PARIS / ARDEX AEV 11 Extra Dur 6 / – 1900
81A KODAK – GB – VELOX VG-2 / 1910

142 KODAK BGC – 4
142 KODAK BGC – 4 / BROMIDE – 1900 / (fixé)

f&d Cartier / 2011

109 Defender Photo Supply / Rochester – / Appex R-4 – 1945

N/F (in extreme lower right corner)

Recto, in pencil, along lower right margin, signature appears above this fifth and final column of text : f&d Cartier / 2011

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.