ABOUT BROMOILS

The Bromoil Process

Bromoil is a rare form of hand-inking photographs.  The process was created in the early 1900's and became very popular for its soft and painterly appearance.  I begin with a silver gelatin (black and white) print that I print in a traditional darkroom.  From there, I bleach the silver and harden the gelatin in a chemical bath.  Once this step is complete, I am able to apply inks to the fragile surface in thin layers with special brushes to create the effect I want.  Generally, this process will create a delicate etched appearance.  Every bromoil is unique and original and can often take weeks to complete.   It has become a lost art, so it is rare to find a Bromoil these days.