In praise of transfer:

Printing and circulation of the photographic image in the Brazilian context

Authors

  • Lucas Eskinazi Universidade de São Paulo

Abstract

The essay originates from the development of the work Caillois, presented in 2025 at the Centro Cultural Mariantonia as part of the exhibition São Paulo cidade, sinais, manchas e sombras. The image series was printed using a solvent-assisted transfer technique. The production involved experiments with image transfer, fine art and inkjet printing, exploring the boundaries between technical control and chance. Entering the subject of image printing and circulation, I draw upon research conducted within the Research Group on Photographic Printing (GPIF), such as digital printing in publishing, fine art inkjet printing, book formats, and various modes of image dissemination. In addition to these studies, I describe the creative process of the photography book Funes, handcrafted with a printer adapted for grayscale, aiming to observe how materiality and support influence image perception and the pursuit of a balance between technical precision and formal deviations. The book's printing stems from artist and printer Marcelo Hein's 2019 research on carbon inks. When discussing image creation through transfer, I recall certain debates from the history of photography, such as pictorialism and image multiplication. Transfer is presented as a process that carries unpredictability and tactile learning, reaffirming the artisanal dimension within the context of Brazilian contemporary photography. Keywords: Photography; Printing; Exhibition; Inkjet printing; Image transfer.

Published

2026-07-01