Dia de los Muertes Devotional Dioramas

The Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday when those that have passed away are remembered in colorful, artful, and dynamic ways.
A part of the tradition includes a rich history of folk art including Nichos, or Retablos, which are whimsical devotional dioramas often made out of tin, wood and papier mache. Click photos for links to artists and shops.

click photos for links

Read More

The Invention of the Diorama-Daguerre and Bouton

In 1822 Louis Daguerre , a painter and stage decorator, along with painter Charles Marie Bouton, invented "realistic illusion shows" or Dioramas.  Together they opened The Diorama in Paris a venue to show their large scale panorama paintings, with special light effects.

woodcut of The Diorama Paris, c. 1830

With light, forced perspective and a couple cranks of moving mechanisms, Daguerre and Bouton turned paintings into moving scenes.

Painting: Ruins in Fog, Charles Bouton c.1823

Here is a video recreation of the Daguerre and Bouton Diorama. Although, the video is in French (without subtitles)-it requires very little translation, as it visually demonstrates the technique that Daguerre and Bouton invented, which is clearly the precursor to modern cinema.


                           

Read More