Telectroscope
Member
Can anyone (please) identify the camera seen here being used (poorly) by Picasso in 1930.
Many companies made box cameras, it could also be a falling plate camera, or maybe a 9x12 camera. Try finding a copy of John Richardsons book "Picasso and the camera". It's actually unlikely to be a box camera as Picasso was an accomplished photographer.
Ian
It looks like a Kodak Brownie - but one that takes a film size bigger than 120. Maybe a number 3?
Yet he is advancing the film, looking for the number to come up.
You are probably right, but there is a chance the camera was a gift from Gertrude Stein. Stein took this photo of Picasso using the camera in 1930. She was American. It's all guesses, but not impossible.It's much more likely to be a camera that was made in Europe than the US -- and there were tons to choose from.
Absolutely, but perhaps they had supplies from friends and family USA. I agree more likely the camera was made in Europe than the US.But didn't Stein and Alice live in Paris for a time?
I wish someone could identify that cigarette he has between his fingers. It's much bigger than the ones I'm used to seeing, at least in the U.S. Maybe one of those Gauloises or Giatanes? I tried both of those before I quit smoking 12/07/92. If those had been all I could find to smoke, I would have stopped much sooner :-(
Yet he is advancing the film, looking for the number to come up.
It looks like the film advance winder is at the top of the camera, which is different from the similar-sized Brownie. Agfa cameras had cranks at the top but viewer windows (for the most part) on the left corner (opposite of this camera).
So, if you had to take a stab in the dark, what camera would you say that Picasso was holding? I am interested to know what you think it could be. Thanks ever so!The size is also right for a 6x9 120 box camera.
Goerz Box Tengor?
I believe it's a Kodak No. 2a Brownie that takes 116 film. There are several features that match.
The camera opens from the front, and you can see the top latch under his pinky finger.
You can see the shiny buttons holding the handle, the back one is under his cigarette. The handle is in line with the camera.
The viewfinder is rectangular and on the user's right and the aperture tab is in the center. The time exposure tab is not visible, but it is tiny.
The wind knob is at the bottom, note how close his right hand is to his body, versus his left hand at the top of the camera.
It is not a No. 2, as they all load from the back, and not a No. 2c or No. 3 Brownie, as they are much larger. I have a No. 2a and my hand on the top of the camera covers the same area, the pinky finger covering the top latch, and my thumb near the back of the camera.
I have box cameras of that era from Ernemann, Goerz, Zeiss, Ansco, Agfa, Conley and Burke and James. None of them seem similar in detail to the pictured camera. While it is entirely possible that it is another European camera, it would have to match those details.
While they are similar to the Brownie, they have a single latch to open on the right side, the Brownies have chrome latches on both the right side and the top. I believe the spot just below his pinky finger is the top latch. Also, the aperture tab on the Goerz appears to be farther from the front of the camera. The Goerz has its aperture behind the lens, the Kodak has it in front of the lens. Of course, we can't tell from the photo, but the Goerz is made of metal, the Kodak is cardboard.
View attachment 327707
View attachment 327705 Goerz Tengor 6.5x11
Brownie 2a
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