I was reading a passage about 'selfie' and came across this sentence which was written on the back of the first selfie taken by Robert Cornelius in 1839. "The first light picture ever taken." I can't get the whole meaning. Actually I have a problem with the meaning of 'light' in this sentence. Any comments would be appreciated.
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1The phrase light picture will cease to be puzzling if one reflects on the etymology of the word photograph.– jsw29Mar 7, 2019 at 16:52
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1 Answer
The two nouns 'light' and 'picture' stand in the same relationship as
oil painting
dry-point engraving
pencil sketch
The first noun describes the method of making the picture.
In this case light has been focused onto a prepared surface to make a chemical change which creates the appearance of a portrait.
National Museums of Scotland describe and display some early light pictures.
