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Family Group at a Swiss Chalet – Autochrome – American Museum of Photography

Family Group at a Swiss Chalet – Autochrome – American Museum of Photography

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Maurice Rambert (Swiss, 1866-1941)

Family Group at Chalet

Autochrome, 5 x 7 inches, circa 1907

Rambert is remembered today for his role as a pioneer of radio broadcasting in Switzerland in the 1920s; he was the first Director-General of the Swiss National Radio Company, a post he held from 1931-1936, and also helped to establish the European governing body for radio, Union Internationale de Radiodiffusion (UIR.)

Rambert’s passionate involvement with color photography was mentioned in a memorial brochure. Most of his surviving Autochromes seem to be quite early, presumably predating his interest in radio. His images may represent the first in a long line of amateur color photographs taken on family vacations, but they also show an eye for pose, composition and color.

This felicitous group at a chalet in the Alps must have presented a difficult logistical challenge. During the lengthy exposure, the lady at the far right has managed to hold her parasol steady, but the woman seated at the left has moved her head enough to turn her face into a blur. The diagonal streak is a flaw, perhaps caused by a light leak in the camera– but it almost seems like an errant sunbeam, shining down to illuminate the scene.

The man in the brown suit seated in the front right of the photograph may be Rambert himself.

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