The History of Autochrome

Collector Gert Koshofer welcomes all FotoTV viewers to a special anniversary film for the color photo plate. One hundred years ago, in May 1907, the French color photo plate, “Autochrome”, was introduced to the public. It was an invention by the Lumiere brothers, who had already given the world cinema in 1895.

Koshofer explains, that with autochrome, color photo photography was suddenly made available to practically everyone and shortly after the emergence of autochrome many viewing devices were produced, such as special photo albums and devices where light shone from behind with the help of mirrors, throwing light across the plate.

Another advantage of autochrome was that it freed people from the studio who were always used to shooting in the studio. One of several stories that accompany the market polarization of autochrome was that of a particular Professor Fritz Schmidt from the Technical High school in Karlsruhe.

In order to bring Autochrome color photography closer to the people, Professor Schmidt explicitly brought out a magazine, “Color Photography”, in 12 issues between 1912-1913, in cooperation with E.A. Seemann Publishing in Leipzig. Throughout the film Koshofer shows excellent examples of unique antique images that shed light on the spirit of the time when autochrome just came into fashion.

This was a time when people energetically embraced the opportunity to photograph with vibrant colors, documenting beautiful sceneries, lovers and historic moments.