cinematograph

The cinematograph, or cinématographe, is a motion-picture apparatus developed in the 1890s by Louis and Auguste Lumière. It was designed to record moving images on film, project them onto a screen, and, in some versions, function as a duplicator. The name combines Greek roots meaning movement and writing, and the device is regarded as a foundational technology in early cinema.

In 1895 the Lumière brothers publicly unveiled the device in Paris, and their screenings of short films helped establish cinema as a popular form of entertainment and communication. The cinematograph was portable enough to be used outside of a dedicated studio and could both capture scenes and project them for audiences, contributing to the shift from private viewing devices to public exhibitions.

Technical features included a hand-cranked mechanism for advancing film, a light source to illuminate the frame during projection, and a design that integrated camera and projector in a single unit. The system commonly used 35mm film, a gauge that later became a standard in the industry. The cinematograph’s dual role as camera and projector facilitated rapid production, exhibition, and distribution of motion pictures.

Legacy: The term cinematography derives from this device and refers to the craft of recording and lighting motion pictures. A person who operates a film camera is called a cinematographer. The cinématographe’s emphasis on combined capture and projection helped shape the development of the modern film industry and viewing experience.