The Evolution of Photographic Arts Is Linked to Progress in Chemistry: A Review of Two Centuries of Symbiosis

Abstract

Photography is a major component of present art. It has applications in arts, in sciences and mainly health sciences, in social interaction. The evolution of photography since its advent 200 years ago relied and was dependent on the knowledge of chemistry. This is a review of the chemical techniques used in the recording and reproduction of photographs and of its applications. In the last two centuries, numerous chemical substances: inorganic, organic and polymeric, influenced the aspect and quality of the photographic techniques and of photographs. Teaching photography requires knowledge of chemistry, while chemistry education needs knowledge of esthetics as offered by photography.