Les Bêtes Galantes

Photographs of Animals from the Collection

Following several years as an itinerant tintypist - and after disappointing sales of his only published book The Tintypist's Companion - Allan Janus gave up professional photography to pursue a more personal (and even less profitable) approach to the medium. He set out to obsessively document subject matter that interested him - gardens, the Potomac River, and especially animals. His motives and intentions for this series are obscure, as The Janus Papers (currently languishing unedited due to an unexpected grant shortfall) shed little light on this period, consisting mainly of overdue bills and complaining letters to gallery directors and curators. We are, therefore, left with the work to view as we may - without the distractions of the photographer's irrelevant commentary.

A Note on Process - Janus called these images "Polylith prints". While they appear to be silver print photographs on commercial photographic paper, they display a curious range of tones that do not appear to be derived from sepia or selenium toning. One theory is that Janus developed his prints in photo-lithographic developer, rather than in paper developer. Whether this was done for artistic reasons, or out of a sense of thrift, or from sheer barking ignorance, we must remain in doubt until generous support for research is forthcoming.

Snow as Charon, Potomac at Swain's Lock
From White Dogs of the Potomac

Black Sheep, Stowe, Bucks.

Angry Goose, Swain's Lock

Christine, Pit Bull - Baltimore

Near Redland, Maryland

Quai de la Mégisserie

A delightful exhibit of animal photography has been arranged by The Janus Museum's Curator at another leading museum, The National Air and Space Museum; a selection of images, Fauna in the Files is available for viewing.

Another selection of superb animal photographs, Animalia