The Art Institute of Chicago is currently featuring an exhibit called Playing with Pictures: The Art of Victorian Photocollage, which runs through January 3, 2010. A total of forty pages were framed and on display, as well as eleven albums. These are accompanied by “virtual albums” on computer screens, where you can page through the entire album. The exhibit will continue on to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (February 2 – May 9) and the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto (June 5 – September 5)
     Photocollage became a popular pass-time with upper-class English ladies during the Victorian Era, particularly the 1860′s and 70′s. The force behind this art form was the Carte de visite. This photographic style was invented in France by Andre Disderi in 1854. These were small scale albumen prints – multiple images were taken on one plate and then cut out. England was beset by “cardomania” – millions were sold and exchanged, particularly those of the Queen and Prince Albert. The exhibit also featured a collection of Carte de visites, some by Disderi, including one uncut original, which I found of interest from a historical standpoint.
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