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The Lumière Brothers and the Dawn of Realism
Capturing Reality on Film
The fifth chapter of our series,, “The Evolution of Cinema“.” is now available. After discussing Thomas Edison’s technical innovations, we now look at the Lumière brothers, Auguste and Louis, whose approach to film was based on the desire for realism rather than amusement.
Early Filmmaking: A Legacy Born of Photographic Roots
The Lumière brothers’ path into film began when their father transitioned from painting to photography. Realizing the potential of this developing medium, he founded a photographic studio that not only provided funding for his children’s education but also was the foundation for their future innovations. Under their father’s supervision, Auguste and Louis took over the family company, improving photography technologies that would eventually take them to film.
The brothers patented their own cinématographe, which was lighter, more portable, and adaptable than Edison’s kinetoscope. This device was more than simply a camera; it also served as a projector, allowing films to be exhibited to a larger audience—a significant step toward modern cinema.
One of their first film presentations was L’Arrivée d’un Train à la Gare de La Ciotat. This picture was not directed in the traditional sense; rather, it captures the basic yet captivating entrance of a train into a station. The use of a moving train demonstrated the medium’s capacity to record life in motion, and some viewers were allegedly so taken aback by the image that they ran to the rear of the room, fearing the approaching train. When studying the history of film realism, this film is considered the first one.
The Lumière brothers also made significant advancements in the usability of video cameras. Their improvements reduced training time for new cameramen to just one day, democratizing film production and facilitating wider use.
The Global Influence and Legacy
The brothers conducted yearly conferences to demonstrate their technical accomplishments, including one unique incident in which they videotaped themselves and displayed the movie the next day—arguably the earliest use of newsreel footage. This showcased the film’s potential for news reporting while also emphasizing the immediacy and power of visual media.
Their travels across the world with the cinématographe swiftly established their name, and the Lumière brand became synonymous with early cinema on a worldwide scale. They showcased the possibilities of film beyond borders with pioneers like Alexandre Promio, who added his own technological innovations.
Despite their early popularity, their films’ uniqueness started to decrease as viewers wanted more interesting stories rather than simply depictions of truth. Recognizing an evolving market, the Lumière brothers changed their attention from production to selling camera equipment, unaware of the storytelling possibilities that would later characterize cinema.
A Legacy of Realism in film and Innovation
As we reflect on the contributions of the Lumière brothers, their legacy reminds us that the essence of cinema began with the simple yet profound desire to capture reality. Their work not only paved the way for the future of film but also established foundational practices that would eventually lead to the rich, narrative-driven cinema we cherish today.
As we conclude our exploration of the first generation of cinema with pioneers like Thomas Edison and the Lumière brothers, we witnessed how these inventors laid the foundational stones of the motion picture industry. Their technological breakthroughs and visionary perspectives transformed cinema from a private curiosity into a public spectacle, setting the stage for new artists and innovators to take the medium in exciting directions.
Deepen Your Knowledge with these books:
- The Lumière Galaxy: Seven Key Words for the Cinema to Come – Written by Francesco Casetti. This book explores how the Lumière brothers’ early films set the stage for modern cinema, delving into their approach to realism and how it shaped future developments in film theory.
- The Lumière Brothers and the Cinema – This book describes Auguste and Louis Lumière’s crucial role in the formation of contemporary cinema, as well as how their efforts created the groundwork for cinema as an art form and a mass medium.
- Film History: An Introduction by Kristin Thompson and David Bordwell – A comprehensive guide to film history, including the role of the Lumière brothers and other pioneers in early cinema. This is an excellent resource for readers who want to explore cinema’s technical and artistic progression.
Citations:
[1] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lumiere-brothers
[2] https://lumieredance.wordpress.com/about/about-the-lumiere-brothers/
[3] https://blog.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/the-lumiere-brothers-pioneers-of-cinema-and-colour-photography/
[4] https://www.cameramuseum.ch/en/discover/permanent-exhibition/the-century-of-the-film/the-birth-of-cinema/
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_and_Louis_Lumi%C3%A8re
[6] https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/who-were-the-lumiere-brothers/
[7] https://thehistorypress.co.uk/article/inventors-and-artists-the-lumi%C3%A8re-brothers/
[8] https://motionpicture.edu/socialcinema/2023/06/21/the-lumiere-brothers-cinematograph/
