Image manipulation has always been around: photographic fakes that trick the eye

2 days ago

Image manipulation is not a new phenomenon, dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Rijksmuseum exhibition 'Fake! Early Photo Collages and Photomontages' showcases 10 historical examples of photographic trickery.
Early techniques included darkroom tricks, composite printing, and photomontages, often used for humor or artistic expression.
Photographers like Leonard de Koningh and FM Hotchkiss employed creative methods to deceive viewers, such as double exposures and head removal.
Photomontages played a role in advertising, art movements like Surrealism, and even political propaganda, as seen in John Heartfield's anti-Nazi works.
The exhibition highlights how image manipulation has been used both to entertain and to convey deeper truths.
Historical photo fakes include playful exaggerations, futuristic visions, and political satire.
Early photographers faced no ethical constraints, allowing for boundless creativity in altering images.
The show also explores how photo collages became a popular pastime and artistic practice in the early 20th century.
The exhibition runs at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam until May 2026.

Hasty Briefsbeta