Hiroshi Sugimoto: Photogenic Drawing
In this series, Hiroshi Sugimoto investigates the scientific origins of photography. In 1834, William Henry Fox Talbot produced some of the very first photograms on sensitized paper, setting a variety of botanical specimens directly on the paper’s surface and exposing the paper to sunlight. These experiments eventually yielded rudimentary paper negatives made from a camera obscura. Talbot, however, never created positive prints from many of his negatives. Alongside many prominent museums, Sugimoto is also a collector of Talbot’s early negatives, and by making photographs of these fragile, delicate objects, Sugimoto aims to at last share these very early images with the world.
![Color photograph of a yellow toned bridge above a lake framed in an aluminum frame](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.020-Framed.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, The China Bridge over the River Avon at Lacock Abbey, April 3, 1840, 2009
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of a sepia toned leaves with a black background in an aluminum frame](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.004-Framed.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Buckler Fern (version I), March 6, 1839 or earlier, 2008
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of sepia toned leaves and flowers against a black background in an aluminum frame](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.021-Framed.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Arrangement of Botanical Specimens, 1839, 2008
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of a grey toned sculpture with three figures wrapped around a snake with a black background in an aluminum frame](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.011-Framed.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Statuette of the Laocoön, probably November 26, 1845, 2009
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of a blue toned leaves and flowers with a black background in an aluminum frame](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.003-Framed.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Stem of Leaves and Flowers, circa 1834-1839, 2008
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of sepia toned portrait of a formal dressed figure with a black background in an aluminum frame](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.006-Framed.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Portrait of Charles Porter, April 7, 1842, 2009
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of sepia toned leaves of asparagus on a black background in an aluminum frame](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.007-Framed.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Leaves of Asparagus, October 4, 1840, 2008
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of green toned florals on a black background in an aluminum frame](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.018-Framed.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Asplenium Halleri, Grande Chartreuse 1821 – Cardamine Pratensis, April 1839, 2008
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of blue toned building by a black background in an aluminum frame](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.017-Framed.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Roofline of Lacock Abbey, circa 1835-1839, 2008
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [123.8 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of sepia toned Rosemary surrounded by a black background in an aluminum frame](https://fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.013-Framed.jpg)
Hiroshi Sugimoto, Botanical Specimen, possibly Rosemary, circa 1835, 2009
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of a yellow toned bridge above a lake framed in an aluminum frame](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.020-Framed.jpg?fit=675%2C790&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoThe China Bridge over the River Avon at Lacock Abbey, April 3, 1840
2009
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of a sepia toned leaves with a black background in an aluminum frame](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.004-Framed.jpg?fit=675%2C790&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoBuckler Fern (version I), March 6, 1839 or earlier
2008
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of sepia toned leaves and flowers against a black background in an aluminum frame](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.021-Framed.jpg?fit=675%2C790&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoArrangement of Botanical Specimens, 1839
2008
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of a grey toned sculpture with three figures wrapped around a snake with a black background in an aluminum frame](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.011-Framed.jpg?fit=675%2C790&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoStatuette of the Laocoön, probably November 26, 1845
2009
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of a blue toned leaves and flowers with a black background in an aluminum frame](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.003-Framed.jpg?fit=675%2C790&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoStem of Leaves and Flowers, circa 1834-1839
2008
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of sepia toned portrait of a formal dressed figure with a black background in an aluminum frame](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.006-Framed.jpg?fit=675%2C790&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoPortrait of Charles Porter, April 7, 1842
2009
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of sepia toned leaves of asparagus on a black background in an aluminum frame](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.007-Framed.jpg?fit=675%2C790&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoLeaves of Asparagus, October 4, 1840
2008
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of green toned florals on a black background in an aluminum frame](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.018-Framed.jpg?fit=675%2C790&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoAsplenium Halleri, Grande Chartreuse 1821 – Cardamine Pratensis, April 1839
2008
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of blue toned building by a black background in an aluminum frame](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.017-Framed.jpg?fit=675%2C790&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoRoofline of Lacock Abbey, circa 1835-1839
2008
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [123.8 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10
![Color photograph of sepia toned Rosemary surrounded by a black background in an aluminum frame](https://i0.wp.com/fraenkelgallery.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SUG-21.013-Framed.jpg?fit=675%2C790&quality=90&strip=all&ssl=1)
Hiroshi SugimotoBotanical Specimen, possibly Rosemary, circa 1835
2009
toned gelatin silver print, 48-7/8 x 41-1/2 inches (framed) [124.1 x 105.4 cm], edition of 10