This post is based on the June 10, 2014 article on Lenscratch by Kat Kiernan, portions reproduced with permission:
Photogravure is photo mechanical process developed in the 1830s and refined in the 1870s. In this process, metal plates are coated with light-sensitive material, exposed to UV light, inked, and run through an etching press. The resulting intaglio prints are rich, archival, and have exceptional tonal range and detail.
Looking at Laurie Schorr’s series Internal Topographics, I feel as if I am navigating the story of her life. Her photogravure prints incorporate self-portraits and still lifes that reflect her personal journey. Each unique print is rich with metaphor. The antique and tactile quality reminds me of discovering a box of keepsakes from a distant relative. I wonder why she held onto and documented the glass bottles filled with maps and sand, what places the maps depict, and their significance to her life.
By Jim McKinniss
PhotoExchange 
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