Léonard Misonne | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | |
Died | 14 September 1943 | (aged 73)
Known for | Photography |
Movement | Pictorialism |
Spouse |
Valentine Lambin (m. 1906) |
Léonard Misonne (French: [leɔnaʁ mizɔn]; 1 July 1870 – 14 September 1943) was a Belgian pictorialist photographer. He is known for his landscapes and street scenes with atmospheric skies.
Early life
[edit]Born to a wealthy family in Gilly, Belgium in 1870, Léonard Misonne was one of many children of Adèle Pirmez and lawyer and industrialist Louis Misonne.[1][2] He studied Greek and humanities in Charleroi[3][1] before going to the Université catholique de Louvain where he got a degree in mining engineering.[4] However, he did not become a mining engineer in the long term.[3][5][a]
Photography
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Misonne%2C_Naar_de_markt.jpg/220px-Misonne%2C_Naar_de_markt.jpg)
Misonne is best known for his atmospheric photographs of landscapes and street scenes, with light as a key feature,[6] and as a pioneer of pictorialism.[5][7] According to the Directory of Belgian Photographers, "Misonne’s work is characterised by a masterly treatment of light and atmospheric conditions. His images express poetic qualities, but sometimes slip into an anecdotal sentimentality."[4] He was nicknamed "the Corot of photography".[8][9]
Misonne devoted himself to photography from 1896,[1] joining the Belgian Photography Association in 1897.[10][5] He became a leading light in pictorialism, frequently exhibiting his photographs at exhibitions.[4][3] He also did slide shows.[5] Much of his photography was in Belgium and the Netherlands,[8] but he also visited London, France, Germany and Switzerland. The German occupation of Belgium during World War II greatly restricted his photography.[5]
Techniques
[edit]Misonne would often photograph things that were strongly illuminated from behind, producing a halo effect.[10] He would also retouch the lighting effects in his photographs,[8] experimenting with and using many techniques, such as the Fresson process and later the bromoil and mediobrome processes.[9][11][4] He also invented the "flou-net" and "photo-dessin" processes.[7][10][3]
Quotes
[edit]Personal life
[edit]Misonne married Louise Valentine Lambin in 1906, and they had several children.[15][b] He supported himself with the family fortune.[7]
Misonne was a keen cyclist, winning some races.[7]
Misonne suffered severely from asthma throughout his life, and died in Gilly in 1943.[5][8]
Bibliography
[edit]Gallery
[edit]-
By the mill, 1910s
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At sunset
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Rainy day, 1930s
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Exit from Namur station
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Waterloo Place, London, 1899
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Tree in the mist, 1910s
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Strolling with a parasol, 1910s
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Rainy street with tram in Brussels, 1937
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Léonard Misonne: Belgian, 1870 - 1943". National Gallery of Art. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Louis-Désiré Misonne: family tree". Marcel l'Hoost. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Turn of the Century: London, 1899 By Léonard Misonne". Ridley McIntyre. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Misonne, Léonard". Foto Museum. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Léonard Misonne". Galerie Retelet. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Léonard Misonne". ND Magazine. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Matinee: Leonard Misonne". Mike Pasini. 2006-03-01. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Leonard Misonne". pammyv02. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Léonard Misonne". BKW Gallery, Brussels. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Monday's photography inspiration – Leonard Misonne". pammyv02. 5 February 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Oil Prints and Bromoil" (PDF). Jacques Kevers. 2001. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Max Dupain". National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Léonard Misonne". Galerie Retelet. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "When Photos Looked Like Paintings: Dreamy Landscape Photographs Taken By Leonard Misonne". Dmitry. 2001-08-18. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Leonard Misonne: family tree". Marcel l'Hoost. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "Tableaux photographiques / par Léonard Misonne". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 30 October 2019.