Phantasmagoria. Lanterns of fear between science and belief.
Strasbourg Museums| N° d'inventaire | 23331 |
| Format | 22 x 29 |
| Détails | 95 p., publisher's hardcover. |
| Publication | Strasbourg, 2020 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9782351251874 |
The spectacle of phantasmagoria has fascinated audiences since the late 18th century. Initially technical experiments, they quickly became the occasion for occult experiences that captivated the public. Drawing their inspiration from the dark Gothic, phantasmagoria led to pre-cinema. The exhibition at the Alsatian Museum in Strasbourg and the accompanying catalog explore the historical context of the emergence of phantasmagoria. The phenomenon of phantasmagoria lies at the intersection of physics, society's enthusiasm for the occult, and a turbulent political context. Diagrams of the functioning of the phantascope are present in optical physics textbooks, at the cutting edge of technology from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, as well as in brochures for apprentice magicians. Robertson, the central figure of the exhibition, is one of the most famous phantasmagorians. He occupies a prominent place in the discussion thanks to his memoirs published in two volumes and his trial during which, accused of plagiarism, he was forced to reveal his tricks. Carefully produced, this general public catalog gives pride of place to illustrations and highlights the collection of original glass plates preserved at the Alsatian Museum and in other public and private collections, notably that of the Cinémathèque Française.
The spectacle of phantasmagoria has fascinated audiences since the late 18th century. Initially technical experiments, they quickly became the occasion for occult experiences that captivated the public. Drawing their inspiration from the dark Gothic, phantasmagoria led to pre-cinema. The exhibition at the Alsatian Museum in Strasbourg and the accompanying catalog explore the historical context of the emergence of phantasmagoria. The phenomenon of phantasmagoria lies at the intersection of physics, society's enthusiasm for the occult, and a turbulent political context. Diagrams of the functioning of the phantascope are present in optical physics textbooks, at the cutting edge of technology from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, as well as in brochures for apprentice magicians. Robertson, the central figure of the exhibition, is one of the most famous phantasmagorians. He occupies a prominent place in the discussion thanks to his memoirs published in two volumes and his trial during which, accused of plagiarism, he was forced to reveal his tricks. Carefully produced, this general public catalog gives pride of place to illustrations and highlights the collection of original glass plates preserved at the Alsatian Museum and in other public and private collections, notably that of the Cinémathèque Française.