In 1923, the Times-Picayune described their new Rotogravure section as containing “Photographs that are the last word in fidelity of detail”. This exceptional, newly refined Rotogravure printing process was a truly masterful means of reproducing high quality photographic images contained within elaborate page spreads, printed in true sepia tones. It represented a brand new, novel way the public would engage with the newspaper through photography.
This exhibition will present a selection of these sections from their inception in 1923, revealing extraordinary glimpses of New Orleans through the eyes of local amateur photographers who submitted their photographic images for the Times-Picayune’s “Prize Photo Competition” over the course of several months. The prizes for each week of the contents were $5, $3, and $1, and only amateur photographers were eligible.
During this inaugural photo competition the T-P boasted: “Indeed our rotogravure field is a splendid one with a limitless future of pictorial wealth to draw upon. Already we have in the view scenes and sentiments that will, we are confident, set even higher standards of attractiveness than the best we have shown… our readers will desire to send broadcast to their friends as ocular proof of how Nature has adopted Louisiana as her favorite child.”
Not only did these statements portend that something momentous was happening with this newly incorporated technology, but it hints to the viral potential of sharing images far and wide, as is a very social and common practice today.
