Gustave le Gray (1820-82) was among the first to claim that photographs should be thought of as artworks in themselves. Originally a painter, le Gray became the first great teacher in the history of the photographic medium, his students including Charles Negre and Maxime du Camp. His interest in experimentation and high technical standards jeopardized his commercial success, however, and he ended his career in Cairo as a teacher of drawing.

Illustrated by: Gustave Le Gray
Photographs by: Gustave le Gray