{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O138476"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O138476/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CC3929/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CC3929/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CC3929","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BP2454","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O138476/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O138476","accessionNumber":"E.2560-2007","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Abstract Composition","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"Moffat made this photogram (a unique, camera-less image) in the darkroom by placing a glove and other objects directly onto photographic paper and switching a light on and off to make the exposure.  The photogram process balances planning with an element of chance: the varying shape, opacity and stillness of the objects allows more or less light to pass around and through them, creating fluctuations of tone and the sense of overlapping forms.\r\n\r\nFirst used at the invention of photography in the 1830s, the process was forgotten until the early 20th century, when it was revived by several avant-garde artists, including Man Ray, who called his photograms 'Rayographs.'  Moffat probably learned the technique from Man Ray, when he collaborated with him in Paris in 1923.  Moffat's photograms are among the earliest examples of the 20th-century interest in camera-less, abstract photography.","physicalDescription":"A photogram (a unique camera-less image) of a glove in the upper right and two abstract bands in the lower left.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Curtis Moffat","id":"A12876"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"x43821"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"photographic gelatin","id":"AAT183863"},{"text":"photographic paper","id":"AAT14190"}],"techniques":[{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Photogram","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"}],"styles":[{"text":"Modernism","id":"AAT21474"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2009CC3929","2007BP2454"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLC","id":"THES49171"},"free":"","case":"BLCG","shelf":"C","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"},{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"possibly"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca.1925","earliest":"1920-01-01","latest":"1929-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Penelope Smail","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"398","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"21/10/2015","earliest":"2015-10-21","latest":"2015-10-21"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"300","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"21/10/2015","earliest":"2015-10-21","latest":"2015-10-21"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Possibly made in collaboration with Man Ray in Paris in the 1920s.\n\nHistorical significance: Moffat's photograms are among the earliest examples of the 20th-century interest in camera-less, abstract photography.","historicalContext":"In Paris during the 1920s, Moffat collaborated with Man Ray, one of several avant-garde artists to revive the photogram, which was originally used at the invention of photography in the 1830s.  Man Ray called his photograms 'Rayographs.'","briefDescription":"Photogram of glove and abstract bands, by Curtis Moffat, ca. 1925.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Man Ray","id":"N5466"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"glove","id":"AAT148821"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.2560-2007"],"accessionNumberNum":"2560","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2007,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-09","recordCreationDate":"2007-08-14","availableToBook":false}}