King's Reach By R.H. Marsh

A bromoil transfer titled King's Reach, done by R.H. Marsh in 1953.

According to the labels pasted to the reverse this work was exhibited nationally between 1953 and 1960.

Framed dims: 21.5 inches x 17 inches

Robert H Marsh (1898-1982) was a prominent British photographer and a member of the prestigious The Bromoil Circle. He specialized in the painterly bromoil and bromoil transfer processes which allowed him to create atmospheric London scenes and still-life studies, developing his technique from joining the society in 1924 until his death in 1982.

He was born in Deptford, South East London and lived and worked in the wider area until his death in Greenwich in 1982.

The technique is time consuming and appears to have been confined to the domain of the amateur photographer, most of whom were members of the Bromoil Circle. The Bromoil Circle of Great Britain is an excellent resource of information on the subject as is the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford. The Bromoil Process is a process whereby the silver image contained in a black and white photograph is replaced by an ink image. The method briefly is that the silver image, contained in gelatine on a bromide print, is bleached away and at the same time the gelatine is hardened according to the amount of silver it contains. It is then fixed, washed and dried. To condition the gelatine for inking the print is re-soaked, removed from the dish and all surplus water wiped off. Greasy ink, such as lithographic ink, is then applied by brush. The ink is accepted where the gelatine has hardened (the shadow areas) but is rejected where the gelatine has swollen (the highlights). Thus the original silver image in the bromide print is changed into an ink image, which is far more permanent. By judicious application of the ink, the worker has great control over the final image.

This process was much favoured by the pictorial workers of yesteryears and is now once more gaining in popularity.