Photogram

A photogram is a photographic image made without a camera by placing objects directly onto the surface of a light-sensitive material, such as photographic paper, and then exposing it to light. The process creates a negative image where the areas covered by the object appear white or light gray, while the exposed areas around the object appear dark. Different degrees of transparency in the object will result in varying shades of gray. The technique is also known as cameraless photography or shadowgraph.

Photograms differ from radiographs (X-rays) in that they utilize visible light, rather than X-rays, and rely on shadow formation, not internal penetration of radiation through an object.

The process is relatively simple and can be achieved using a variety of light sources, including sunlight, incandescent bulbs, or enlarger lamps. The duration and intensity of light exposure impact the final image's contrast and detail. Photograms can be created with both opaque and translucent objects, and experimentation with various materials and light sources allows for a range of artistic effects. The resultant image is a direct record of the object's shape and form as cast in shadow.

The history of photograms dates back to the early days of photography, with pioneers like William Henry Fox Talbot experimenting with similar techniques he termed "photogenic drawings". Other notable artists who explored photograms include Man Ray, who termed his photograms "Rayographs," and László Moholy-Nagy, who experimented extensively with the medium in the Bauhaus movement. The photogram continues to be used by artists and educators today as a means of exploring abstract composition, photographic processes, and the relationship between light, object, and image.