photograms

Photograms are images created without a camera by placing objects directly on light-sensitive material and exposing it to light. The objects block portions of the light, leaving silhouettes or textures on the surface after development. Photograms can be made on photographic paper, film, or cyanotype papers, and are often described as camera-less photography. When cyanotypes are used, the result is typically blue-toned.

Process: In a darkroom or light-safe workspace, arrange objects on a prepared surface. Expose to a controlled light source for a period to achieve the desired contrast. Development follows standard photographic chemistry for gelatin-silver papers, or washing and clearing for cyanotypes. The finished image records the light that reached the surface, with the objects appearing as light shapes against a darker background.

History and notable practitioners: The method emerged in the 19th century with Anna Atkins using cyanotype photograms of algae in the 1840s, producing one of the first photographic books. In the 1920s at the Bauhaus, László Moholy-Nagy explored photograms to study form and light. Man Ray popularized the term rayograph, creating numerous camera-less images. Christian Schad made Schadographs in the early 1920s, combining geometric cutouts with portraits. The practice persists in contemporary art and education.

Variations and contemporary use: Artists experiment with different light sources, materials, and digital tools, creating hybrid camera-less works or scanning photograms for further editing. Photograms offer immediacy and a historical perspective on image-making without a camera.