The House remains open during a major structural restoration. Click here to learn more.
In the Spirit: Modern Photographers Channel the 19th Century
Open through November 28, 2011
Join us on Friday, November 11 for a lecture by John Dugdale.
Visit our events page for details and reservations.
The Museum’s current exhibition features “haunting” works by Sally Mann, John Dugdale, Hal Hirshorn, and RA Friedman shown alongside 19th-century spirit photographs from Thomas Harris and The Burns Archive.
Ever since its origin in the first half of the 19th century, photography has provided visual proof — a guarantee that whatever is recorded on the film existed, was real. In 1861, when William Mumler made the first spirit photographs, spiritualists hailed them as indisputable evidence of life beyond the grave. Accused of fraud, though the charges were eventually dropped, Mumler set off a debate that would last into the 20th century.
Now, in a world where science has displaced spiritualism and digital photographs are often openly manipulated, belief in traditional spirit photography is no longer a consideration. But that doesn’t mean photographers have stopped trying to capture the invisible.
Drawing inspiration from early techniques and imagery, Sally Mann, John Dugdale, Hal Hirshorn, and RA Friedman are among photography’s modern mediums. Their work channels an ethereal, emotional past, capturing atemporal scenes, pictures of an alternate history. “Haunted” by the past that they unflinchingly embrace, the images on display now at the Merchant’s House Museum are today’s spirit photographs.
Selections from Hal Hirshorn’s 2011 Salt Print series, Death & Funeral of Seabury Tredwell
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- Salt Print by Hal Hirshorn
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- Salt Print by Hal Hirshorn
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- Salt Print by Hal Hirshorn
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- Salt Print by Hal Hirshorn
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- Salt Print by Hal Hirshorn
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- Salt Print by Hal Hirshorn
