Herschel 1842 – Lady with a Harp – Cyanotype
Toronto. In the days of back and white films, prints were toned for artistic purposes and sometimes for protection. Gold toning helped protect the print and extend its life. We all remember sepia toned prints, The brownish colour was a popular alternative to the basic B&W print.
Occasionally iron was used to give a blue cast to the print, or create cyanotypes or blue prints. Blue prints were typically used by engineering firms and manufacturers rather than photographers.
Note. The title of this post is the name of the 1941 song, “Blues in the Night” sung here by Cab Calloway.
