Notman exhibit — Portrait of an extraordinary visionary photographer

The first retrospective exhibit dedicated to William Notman, Notman, A Visionary Photographer, opens today at Montreal’s McCord Museum, and it will run until March 26, 2017.

Notman was the most important Canadian photographer of the 19th century. He was an innovator. His body of work, from his portraits to the landscapes that spanned the country from east to west, helped build the Canadian identity.

McCord’s exhibit was created as part of the celebrations for Montreal’s 375th anniversary and the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation in 2017.

Joseph Craig, master plasterer, appears second from right. Source: McCord Museum, Montreal.

Internationally known
Notman, who came to Montreal from Paisley, Scotland in 1856, was Canada’s first celebrity photographer. He was known around the world. His vision set him apart from his contemporaries. He pushed boundaries and used new technology like stereography, where viewers could see photographs in three-dimensions.

Hélène Samson, curator, Notman Photographic Archives, said, “For him, photography was art.”

Notman experimented with paint and photography, creating composite works that are now considered masterpieces. He broke down the barriers between photography and painting with his painted photographs, composites — the precursor of Photoshop —  and studied stagings.

For Notman, photography was a new way to express one’s individual and collective identity, and he actively contributed to democratizing the portrait, photographing everyday people along with celebrities, First Nations peoples, trappers, and voyageurs.

Through the publication of his works — he was a leader in publishing photography books — he shared his vision and promoted photography as a fine art.

A true entrepreneur, in 1872, he managed 26 franchised studios in Canada and the United States.

Four themes in the exhibit
The exhibit, at McCord Museum in downtown Montreal right across the street from McGill University, is divided into four themes inspired by Notman’s boldness as a businessman, his networking proficiency, as well as his qualities as an artist and builder.

The exhibit features some 300 photographs and objects drawn primarily from McCord Museum’s collection. While focusing on vintage prints, displays are supplemented with multimedia installations and interactive devices that help clarify 19th-century idea of modernity.

The ‘Notman, A Vision Photographer’ exhibit at McCord Museum runs until end of March 2017. Photo: Gail Dever.

Vernissage
I attended Wednesday night’s very crowded vernissage — exhibit preview — with my daughter. It was great to see a very large number of people in their 20s and 30s in attendance who have an interest in Notman.

The biggest surprise, however, happened whan I came upon a larger-than-life image of my great-great-great-uncle Joseph Craig, a master plasterer, that had originally been taken in 1862. It was likely he who built the portico for the Notman studio bearing the inscription, “Photographer to the Queen.”

Joseph Craig, ‘The Plasterer,’ appears larger than life on the right. Photo courtesy McCord Museum.

Also attending the vernissage were 35 of Notman’s descendants — three generations — from Canada and the United States.

Gail Dever with her larger-than-life great-great-great-uncle Joseph Craig — The Plasterer. Photo: Shannon Houle.

Plan a visit
I highly recommend seeing the Notman exhibit. I plan to return with friends for a second visit when it will likely be less crowded than the vernissage.

The exhibit is open every day, except Monday. Admission is $20 for adults and $17 for seniors (65+).

If you can go during the day, Tuesday through Friday, I suggest you combine the visit with lunch in the museum’s Café Bistro next to the lobby. The restaurant is a popular place at lunch, so call ahead to make a reservation.

You should also go into the museum boutique on the other side of the lobby. It is filled with lots of Canadian treasures and gift ideas, including several associated with the Notman exhibit. I bought a coffee mug that features my great-great-great-uncle and a beautiful coffee table book about Notman and the exhibit.

Canada tour
Following its stay in Montreal, McCord’s Notman exhibit will travel to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, across the river from Ottawa, and then to Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta. The museum hopes the exhibit will travel to even more venues.

When you do go to the exhibit, make sure you see my uncle Joe.

More than 82,000 photos from the Notman Photographic Archives are available online and searchable on the McCord Museum website.

My story, ‘Annie Young, the Notman doodler,’ about Joseph Craig’s niece and my ancestor can be found here. Annie Young is one of four of my ancestors who worked for Notman. More than 200 photos of my family were taken in the Notman studio.