Cartomania was a photographic phenomenon that seized the public imagination at the beginning of the 1860s. Small portraits, dubbed cartes-de-visite, were avidly exchanged with friends and family, quickly earning a reputation as 'the paper currency of social intercourse'. Compiled into albums and prominently displayed in the home to peruse, assess and discuss, this first explosion of commercial portraiture proved a wildly popular craze, particularly once celebrities embraced the new format. A huge range of subjects were captured – from reigning queens and visiting sultans to grieving mothers and nefarious criminals.
Paul Frecker's talk, inspired by his recent book Cartomania: Photography and Celebrity in the 19th Century, provides insight into the careers of the enterprising men and women who established studios and into the lives of those who passed before their cameras.
Paul Frecker was previously a stylist working in fashion, music videos and advertising. Twenty years ago he discovered a carte-de-visite album in a local antiques market and switched careers, becoming a dealer in 19th-century photography and a collector of cartes-de-visite. His book on Cartomania was published earlier this year.
£10 (£8 Members / concessions)
