Chromagraphy
Chromagraphy is "the art to compose a drawing by means of lines and geometrical figures and to imitate it with colored materials," according to Rouget de Lisle.
Technique
This technique, described in 1839 in France, in Paris, exposes a set of methods and processes to produce tapestries and tissues. It includes the following techniques:
- The printing in black and in color on paper, patterns and tissues,
- The preparation of colors and materials necessary for the draftsmen, for the colourers and the manufacturers of carpet and tapestries, classified according to a chromatic table,
- A manufacturing process of point, innovative in 1839,
- The art to make industrially tapestries comparable to the best tapestries of that time.
Definitions
Chromagraphie: art to compose a model by means of lines and of geometrical figures, and to imitate it with colored materials. Rouget de Lisle described its process of composition and printing of works in color on paper, patterns and tissues as allowing to save 50% of time with regard to a manual realization.
Etymology
The word chromagraphy comes from ancient Greek Khrôma which means "color" and Graphein which means "writing". This etymology is comparable to that of the scientific term "chromatography", which appeared only in 1908 and which must not be confused with the chromagraphy of Rouget de Lisle.
History
The intention of Rouget de Lisle was to create "a funny and lucrative activity for the ladies and the artists colourers “by developing the work of color” by the composition of tasteful models which make them love and look for" and by propagating "the feeling and the love of the beautiful." He began to gather and to classify the knowledge of the painters and the manufacturers of tapestries to realize their works in a "pleasant, economic and complete" way. These works, ending in chromagraphy, benefited from the support of big names in the field at the time, among which the administrator of the royal factory of Tapestries (Manufacture des Gobelins), Mr Lavocat, the director of the dyes of the royal factories, Mr Chevreul, the foreman of the royal factory of tapestries, Mr Deyrolles, with his son, painter of the models of carpet. Rouget de Lisle was himself a pupil of Mr Chevreul.
Principle
The general principle is to simplify the complete chain leading from a work to its reproduction on another support, such as the carpet or the tissue. Rouget de Lisle attempts to refocus the work of the various workers on tasks with added value, both for the people and for their productions. He brings a particular attention to the quality throughout the process, in particular on the management of colors and their exact reproductions. He exposes "the law of the simultaneous contrast " and the "chromatic Table" allowing to achieve quality printings. He so obtains 200 tints in all. These 200 tones are codified by a language allowing their fast reproductions during the preparation of tapestries. The drawing of the work to be reproduced, completed by the symbols of tints of every point, constitutes the chromagraphy. This system reminds the modern description of a computer file of Bitmap type or GIF 8 bits. Rouget de Lisle also integrates signs for the various types of points to be realized.
Example
Example of Chromagraphy by Rouget de Lisle : (to be done)
One of the tables of signs symbolizing tints: (to be done)
One of the tables of tones according to the rules of the simultaneous contrast exposed by Rouget de Lisle in his work on chromagraphy: (to be done)
Notes and references
All the extracts and examples of Rouget de Lisle result from a reproduction of his work published in 1839, on Chromagraphy (see the external references). The chromagraphy in its spirit and its principle gets closer to digital arts that appeared since the end of the 20th century, such as computer paintings, prints, drawings, etc.). The chain of digital printing from a file of digital image recalls the mechanical production line described by Rouget de Lisle, but in a computer and a modern industrial machine, such as a printer, a weaver, etc.
See also
References
External links
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