Dreaming Lifein CoLours

grafika la estampa

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Dreaming Life in CoLoursA selection of hand-painted photographs

grafika la estampa

Dreaming Life in Colours project

presented by Grafika la Estampa

for the 17th edition of Paris Photo in 2013

Limited edition of 250 copies

Designed by Vincent Roché

Translated by Xavier Mondoloni

Proofread by Jeanne Renucci

Printed in France by Cédric Noël

Self-published by Grafika la Estampa

©2013 by Grafika la Estampa, Mexico

Director’s foreword

Dreaming Life in Colours intends to show the use of colours in the Mexican portrait photography through a selection of about fifty prints that were hand-painted from the eighteen-fifties up to the nineteen-sixties. Through this selection, we wish to give the spectator the opportunity to discover the still little-known history of the hand-painted portrait photography.

Since the birth of the medium, it has been a fancy as well as a necessity to use colours in an attempt to give an accurate reproduction of nature. Colours have the power to create an atmosphere that arouses emotions linked to a specific environment. There are places such as India, the Middle East, Africa or Latin America where colours are absolutely everywhere and where hand-painted photography was a widespread tradi-tion until the nineteen-fifties and sixties.

The photographic portraits we have selected, were in most cases, realised by studios that do not exist any longer or that have radically changed over the years, eventually forsaking the tradition of hand-painted portrait photography. These hybrid pictures that painters did not consider to be paintings nor photographers to be photographs, are unique works of art, generally coloured by women-painters who had learnt how to paint since childhood. Some of them had acquired an extraordinary artistic knowledge but very few had attended the courses of the Academy of Fine Arts, as they would not have dreamt of an education along with men.

These portraits reveal the complexity of a society that dreamt of looking wealthier by the addition of jewels that did not appear in the original picture. A society that also dreamt of looking fairer, by copying the standards of beauty and fashion of the time and by creating, with the help of colours, an atmosphere where the ordinary becomes kitsch and attracts the eye.

In this selection, the artificial colours as well as the technical skills of the painters result in a wide range of pictorial styles: from pop and Warhol-like portraits ofcelebrities to naive painters and even classical ones whose use of colours provesa real knowledge in painting.

This collection, we hope, is an account of a bygone era where photography combined to painting enabled people to dream their lives in colours.

Tania SanabriaStudio anonymouSFille à l’éventaille, CA. 1940

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Anonymous StudioMother and son

ca. 1925

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Anonymous Studio - Guillermo, Monterrey, Mexico, 1940 Anonymous Studio - Esther, Monterrey, Mexico, 1940

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Anonymous StudioLittle girl wearing an embroidered yellow dress

ca. 1940

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Studio Moderno - Silvya at the age of sixteen months, Mexico, ca. 1940J. Guzmán Studio - Little girl with pink French poodle, Mexico, ca. 1940

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Anonymous Studio - Little boy in pyjamas, ca. 1940Anonymous Studio - Little girl’s birthday, ca. 1945

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Anonymous StudioGirl wearing a Spanish costume

ca. 1940

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Anonymous StudioYoung girl in an elegant white gown

ca. 1940

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Anonymous Studio - Studio portrait of a young lady, ca. 1880 C. Obregon Studio - Young lady with a flower bouquet, ca. 1920

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Foto Rios Studio - Young lady in yellow dress, ca. 1930 Compañía Internacional Fotográfica (CIF) - María Tubau, ca. 1925

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José B. Rodríguez - Woman with a dragonfly brooch, Mexico, ca. 1900

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1925. anomymous. Vintage silver print, enhanced with watercolour

Attributed to Gustavo F. SilvaCarmén Mondragón, also known as Nahui Olin

Mexico, 1918

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Attributed to Juan Ocón Rudall - Young lady with a brown beaded dress, ca. 1920 Anonymous Studio - Young lady with an ostrich feather fan, ca. 1920

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Attributed to C. Obregon Studio - Young lady with gold jewellery, ca. 1930 C. Obregon Studio - Young lady with a sequined hat, ca. 1930

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Anonymous Studio - Anita, Mexico, 1942 Anonymous Studio - Young woman with pearl necklace, ca. 1940

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Studio MoronesOlympia, Mexico, 1944

Studio MoronesOlympia, Mexico, 1946

“Amado Nico: Para ti con el inmenso amor que por toda la eternidad guardaré en mi corazón.Tuya Olympia 17/5/44”

“Nico amado: Que ninguna nube tempestuosa venga a nublar el limpido cielo de nuestro incomparable amor.Tuya Olympia 5/6/46”

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Foto Violeta StudioBerta and Gertrudes

Mexico, 1958

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L. Martínez Torreon StudioCristina, Dolores, Victoria and Mayela

Mexico, ca. 1950

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Anonymous Studio - Young woman standing next to a vase of gladioli, Mexico, ca. 1950 Anonymous Studio - Little girl wearing an Oriental costume, Mexico, ca. 1950

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Requis Studio, hand-painted by Alejandro FregosoRed Cross nurseMexico, ca. 1940

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Armando Herrera - Rosita Quintana, Mexico, ca. 1945 Anonymous Studio - Clark Gable, ca. 1950

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Anonymous Studio - A possible portrait of Lana Turner, ca. 1945Anonymous Studio - A possible portrait of Joan Crawford, ca. 1945

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Attributed to Armando Herrera - Dolores del Río, ca. 1940Attributed to Armando Herrera - María Félix, ca. 1940

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Anonymous Studio - Scene from the film “El pecado de quererte”, Mexico, 1950

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Anonymous Studio - Scene from the film “Los tres mosqueteros y medio”, Mexico, 1957

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Anonymous Studio - Scene from the film “Nunca es tarde para amar”, Mexico, 1953

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Anonymous Studio - Scene from the film “Dinero maldito”, Mexico, 1949

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Anonymous Studio - Mexican couple, ca. 1920

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Anonymous Studio - Jesusito, Rosaura and Luis, Mexico, ca. 1930Anonymous Studio - Mexican family portrait, ca. 1940

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Anonymous Studio - El conquistador del cielo, Mexico, ca. 1930

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Foto Estudio Hollywood - Bride and groom with their families, Mexico, 1940

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Anonymous Studio - Young bride with her bridesmaids, ca. 1950

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Foto Rios StudioWedding portrait with bridesmaids and pageboys

Mexico, ca. 1930

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4/ Anonymous StudioYoung lady with a fur stole, ca. 1920Hand-painted vintage silver print296x232 mm

6/ Anonymous StudioMother and son, ca. 1925Hand-painted vintage silver print296x266 mm

10/ Anonymous StudioLittle girl wearing an embroidered yellow dress, ca. 1940Hand-painted vintage silver print250x195 mm

12/ J. Guzmán StudioLittle girl with pink French poodle, Mexico, ca. 1940Hand-painted vintage silver printPhotographer’s signature and annotations on the reverse.250x198 mm

13/ Studio Moderno, VeracruzSilvya at the age of sixteen months, Mexico, ca. 1940Hand-painted vintage silver printPhotographer’s dry stamp and annotations from Silvya’smother on the reverse170x117 mm

14/ Anonymous StudioLittle girl’s birthday, ca. 1945Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on cardboard250x200 mm

8/ Anonymous StudioGuillermo, Monterrey, Mexico, 1940Hand-painted vintage silver printAnnotations on the reverse168x120 mm

9/ Anonymous StudioEsther, Monterrey, Mexico, 1940Hand-painted vintage silver printAnnotations on the reverse168x120 mm

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26/ Attributed to Gustavo F. Silva (in activity since 1910)Carmén Mondragón, also known as Nahui Olin, Mexico, 1918Hand-painted vintage silver print434x333 mm

28/ Attributed to Juan Ocón Rudall (1890-1927)Young lady with a brown beaded dress, ca. 1920Hand-painted vintage silver print229x176 mm

31/ C. Obregon StudioYoung lady with a sequined hat, ca. 1930Hand-painted vintage silver printPhotographer’s signature on lower left250x200 mm

32/ Anonymous StudioAnita, Mexico, 1942Hand-painted vintage silver printAnnotations on the reverse226x197 mm

33/ Anonymous StudioYoung woman with pearl necklace, ca. 1940Hand-painted vintage silver print245x192 mm

34/ Studio MoronesOlympia, Mexico, 1944Hand-painted vintage silver print, photographer’s signature on lower leftDedicated by Olympia to her lover Nico on lower right250x200 mm

29/ Anonymous StudioYoung lady with an ostrich feather fan, ca. 1920Hand-painted vintage silver print245x193 mm

30/ Attributed to C. Obregon StudioYoung lady with gold jewellery, ca. 1930Hand-painted vintage silver print251x199 mm

16/ Anonymous StudioGirl wearing a Spanish costume, ca. 1940Hand-painted vintage silver print275x164 mm

18/ Anonymous StudioYoung girl in an elegant white gown, ca. 1940Hand-painted vintage silver print233x180 mm

20/ Anonymous StudioStudio portrait of a young lady, ca. 1880Hand-painted albumen printMounted in its original case140x110 mm

21/ C. Obregon StudioYoung lady with a flower bouquet, ca. 1920Hand-painted vintage silver printPhotographer’s signature on lower left177x125 mm

22/ Foto Rios StudioYoung lady in yellow dress, ca. 1930Hand-painted vintage silver printPhotographer’s signature on lower left233x150 mm

23/ Compañía Internacional Fotográfica (CIF)María Tubau, ca. 1925Hand-painted vintage silver print280x177 mm

24/ José B. RodríguezWoman with a dragonfly brooch, Mexico, ca. 1900Hand-painted albumen printPhotographer’s signature on lower right193x241 mm

15/ Anonymous StudioLittle boy in pyjamas, ca. 1940Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on cardboard346x235 mm

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42/ Requis Studio, hand-painted by Alejandro FregosoRed Cross Nurse, Mexico, ca. 1940Hand-painted vintage silver print, studio’s signature on lower rightPainter’s stamp on the reverse332x248 mm

44/ Armando Herrera (1913-2010)Rosita Quintana, Mexico, ca, 1945Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on cardboardPhotographer’s signature on the negative355x285 mm

47/ Anonymous StudioA possible portrait of Lana Turner, ca. 1945Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on cardboard350x275 mm

48/ Attributed to Armando Herrera (1913-2010)María Félix, ca. 1940Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on cardboard355x275 mm

59/ Attributed to Armando Herrera (1913-2010)Dolores del Río, ca. 1940Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on cardboard355x275 mm

50/ Anonymous StudioScene from the film “El pecado de quererte”, Mexico, 1950Hand-painted vintage silver print“Productora Continental” stamp on the reverse250x334 mm

45/ Anonymous StudioClark Gable, ca. 1950Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on cardboard351x277 mm

46/ Anonymous StudioA possible portrait of Joan Crawford, ca. 1945Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on fabric353x280 mm

36/ Foto Violeta StudioBerta and Gertrudes, Mexico, 1958Hand-painted vintage silver printStudio’s stamp on the reverse85x130 mm

38/ L. Martínez Torreon StudioCristina, Mexico, ca. 1950Hand-painted vintage silver print, photographer’s signature on lower rightPencil annotations on the reverse172x117 mm

38/ L. Martínez Torreon StudioDolores, Mexico, ca. 1950Hand-painted vintage silver print, photographer’s signature on lower rightPencil annotations on the reverse172x117 mm

38/ L. Martínez Torreon StudioVictoria, Mexico, ca. 1950Hand-painted vintage silver print, photographer’s signature on lower rightPencil annotations on the reverse165x115 mm

38/ L. Martínez Torreon StudioMayela, Mexico, ca. 1950Hand-painted vintage silver print, photographer’s signature on lower rightPencil annotations on the reverse172x117 mm

40/ Anonymous StudioYoung woman standing next to a vase of gladioli, Mexico, ca. 1950Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on cardboard248x200 mm

41/ Anonymous StudioLittle girl wearing an Oriental costume, Mexico, ca. 1950Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on cardboard246x197 mm

35/ Studio MoronesOlympia, Mexico, 1946Hand-painted vintage silver print, photographer’s signature on lower rightDedicated by Olympia to her lover Nico on lower right252x205 mm

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54/ Anonymous StudioScene from the film “Nunca es tarde para amar”, Mexico, 1953Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on cardboard264x340 mm

56/ Anonymous StudioScene from the film “Dinero maldito”, Mexico, 1949Hand-painted vintage silver print“Productora Continental” stamp on the reverse272x348 mm

58/ Anonymous StudioMexican couple, ca. 1920Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on fabric278x351 mm

60/ Anonymous StudioMexican family portrait, ca. 1940Hand-painted vintage silver print176x126 mm

61/ Anonymous StudioJesusito, Rosaura and Luis, Mexico, ca. 1930Hand-painted vintage silver printAnnotations on the reverse243x182 mm

62/ Anonymous StudioEl conquistador del cielo, Mexico, ca. 1930Hand-painted vintage silver print231x344 mm

64/ Foto Estudio HollywoodBride and groom with their families, Mexico, 1940Hand-painted vintage silver printPhotographer’s dry stamp on lower right271x348 mm

52/ Anonymous StudioScene from the film “Los tres mosqueteros y medio”, Mexico, 1957Hand-painted vintage silver print285x380 mm

66/ Anonymous StudioYoung bride with her bridesmaids, ca. 1950Hand-painted vintage silver print mounted on cardboardPhotographer’s signature on lower right265x335 mm

68/ Foto Rios StudioWedding portrait with bridesmaids and pageboys, Mexico, ca. 1930Hand-painted vintage silver printPhotographer’s dry stamp on lower right240x185 mm

79/ Anonymous StudioWoman wearing a black dress, ca. 1890Hand-painted tintype250x180 mm

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acknowledgements

I would like to thank all the individuals who played a part in makingDreaming Life in Colours possible.

First, I would like to extend my gratitude to Jorge and Xiuhnel Sanabria whose passion, excitement and endorsement helped me on this project.

I am of course grateful to Paty Banda and Arturo Talavera who have intro-duced me to Beatriz Escamilla Cantón, one of the last Mexican hand-painters in photography to remain and who was kind enough to answer to my ques-tions.

For their contribution to this catalogue, I would like to thank Vincent Roché and Xavier Mondoloni who have shared their thoughts, knowledge and time.

For their continuous support, very special thanks go to Antoine Cavelierand Claude Ung.

Finally, I indeed do thank, my mother, Cristina Gómez for her advice and encouragement.

Tania SanabriaGrafika la Estampa director