Pierre Cordier
Chemigram 27/8/76 I

Chemigram 27/8/76 I

© Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / c/o Pictoright Amsterdam

Chemigram 27/8/76 I
Chemigram 27/8/76 I
ArtistBelgian, born 1933
CultureBelgian
Titles
  • Chemigram 27/8/76 I
  • Chimigramme 27/8/76 I
DateAugust 27, 1976
MediumGelatin silver print, chemigram
DimensionsImage: 7 1/16 × 9 7/16 in. (18 × 24 cm)
Sheet: 7 1/16 × 9 7/16 in. (18 × 24 cm)
Mat: 14 × 16 15/16 in. (35.5 × 43 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by Photo Forum 2016, in honor of Allison Pappas
Object number2016.152
Not on view

Explore Further

Department
Photography
Object Type
Description

Pierre Cordier is considered the father of the chemigram,
a print made by exposing photographic paper and chemicals to light without the
use of a camera or film. He brushed, rolled, or sprayed household products such
as honey, syrup, oil, varnish, wax, and adhesives onto paper and then soaked it
alternately in developer and fixer. Each material reacts in its own way with
the paper and the developing chemistry, remaining firmly in place or rinsing
off easily, so that different tones come through at different stages of the
processing. The results push the boundaries of the photographic medium by incorporating
the techniques and materials of abstract painting. This photograph exemplifies
his chemigrams at the time when they had come into their own. The gestural
forms generated by the rich juxtaposition of deep purple, gold, and black
against the black-and-white gelatin silver paper suggest a collection of
fossils or ancient hieroglyphs. 




ProvenanceThe artist; Gerd Sander, c. 1977; [Gitterman Gallery, New York, 2013]; purchased by MFAH, 2016.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Inscribed in blue ink, recto lower left: CHiMiGRAMME [sic] 27/8/76 I
Signed in blue ink, recto lower right: Pierre Cordier [underlined]

Signed in blue ink, recto lower right: Pierre Cordier [underlined]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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

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