Introduction

Vincent Lavoie, McCord Museum, 2003

Born in the midst of the industrial revolution, photography is firmly identified with the modern world like which it celebrated the virtues of speed, precision and mass production. Photography was, however, more than the simple reflection of a changing world. It met the new demand for pictures of a society turned towards mass communication and consumption. The widespread availability of Kodak cameras, starting in 1888, was a major factor in democratizing the practice of photography. Home life, festivities, fun -- but also simple everyday activities -- all became occasions for memorable pictures. There was no more need for special skills or training: "You Press the Button, We Do the Rest," as the Kodak ads said. Since then, consumers and producers of photographs have become one and the same amid a proliferation of images and goods.