Brig upon the Water

One of the most influential photographers of the 19th century, Gustave Le Gray was a fervent proponent of the medium's artistic potential. This work was first exhibited in 1856 and received both popular and critical acclaim. One of the earliest photographs successfully marketed to an art audience, it was printed in a relatively large edition. From a technical standpoint, Brig was a notable feat: it was made with an unusually rapid or "instantaneous" exposure and represented the careful combination of two negatives, one for the sea, another for the sky.