OUGD601: Methods of Production (The Studio)

Methods in production have meant the photographic image has been implemented into cotemporary publications, and a shift away from illustrations. Line methods were used from the 1870s, composed of metal plates, etching and halftone photo relief processes. This was refined in the 1880s so photographs and paintings could be duplicated- something discussed heavily by Walter Benjamin. – ‘The Studio: Photomechanical reproduction and the changing status of design’ (JSTOR)(2007)

The above essay also examines ‘The Studio’, which Clive Ashwin considers the first ‘visually modern’ arts & culture (monthly) magazine, which later influenced the next century of publishing. Established in London just before the turn of the century. The Studio were the first magazine to use the ‘new method’ of photo relief processing, using a mixture of half tone plates to replicate photographs.  The Sketch was the first middle class photographic magazine to capitalise on the new reproductive techniques, combining design and editorial considerations and established in 1893, just before The Studio. The essay also looks at Walter Benjamins critique of reproduced images, which he says the ‘aura’ of the images are lost through reproduction, however this disagrees saying reproduction “heightened the standing of the original”.

 “In other art magazines, status was inscribed within the printed image by the reproduction method that was used. The more important the artwork, the more elaborate the reproduction techniques which were employed to produce a printable matrix.”

(Vogue capitalised on these printing techniques to reproduce illustrative communication, debut some of fashions most prolific photographers and give fashion culture a world wide platform)