From the outset, his contribution to the invention of the medium was eclipsed by others such as Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre (1787–1851) and William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–1877). However, Bayard had an undeniable role in the birth of photography and its subsequent evolution into a form of art. He was a pioneer in artistic style, innovator in terms of practice, and teacher of the next generation of photographers.
Alongside an exploration of Bayard’s decades-long career and lasting impact, Hippolyte Bayard and the Invention of Photography (J. Paul Getty Museum, $65) presents—for the first time in print—some of the earliest photographs in existence. Among the Getty Museum’s rarest and most treasured photographic holdings is an album containing nearly 200 images, 145 of those by or attributed to Bayard. Few of these prints have ever been seen in person due to the extreme light sensitivity of Bayard’s experimental processes, making this an essential reference for scholars and photography enthusiasts alike.
This volume accompanies an exhibition on view at the Getty Museum from April 9–July 7, 2024.
