Mordançage with Magda Kuca - Saturday 9 August
Dates: 9 August 2025
Days: Saturday
Time: 10:30 - 17:30
Length: 1 Day
Tutor: Magda Kuca
Mordançage is a historic photographic process where a darkroom print is chemically manipulated to create an ethereal, three-dimensional quality by physically lifting, repositioning, and securing the darkest areas of a black-and-white print.
First discovered by Paul Liesegang in the late 1800s, it was initially designed for use with negatives and was known by various terms, including bleach-etch, etch-bleach, gelatin relief, and reverse relief. In the 1960s, Jean-Pierre Sudre developed the process for prints and coined the name "Mordançage" from the French word mordre, meaning "to bite." It quickly became popular for its ability to produce surreal, striking images.
In this full-day course, Magda will guide you through the basics of the Mordançage process, including bleaching, redevelopment, and a simplified method for producing digital negatives for contact printing with silver gelatin paper. By the end of the day, you’ll gain a new skill in Mordançage and leave with 4–6 unique prints.
This course is designed for beginners, though some prior darkroom experience is recommended.
The Course Covers:
Health & Safety Guidelines: Overview of key safety practices for working in the darkroom.
Introduction to Mordançage Equipment & Chemistry: Learn about the tools and chemicals used in the Mordançage process.
Creating Digital Negatives: Each participant will create a digital negative from a file and can bring existing 35mm or 6x6 black-and-white film for contact printing.
Developing Black-and-White Prints: Techniques for developing black-and-white prints to prepare for the Mordançage process
Processing Photographs with Mordançage Bleach: Step-by-step guidance on how to manipulate your prints with the Mordançage bleach for a surreal effect.
Troubleshooting and Tips: Solutions to common challenges in the process and guidance on selecting the best photographs for Mordançage.
Note: Participants will receive tips on selecting photographs in advance. Feel free to bring one printed silver gelatin print and a digital file for use during the workshop. Don't forget to wear comfortable darkroom clothing, as it may get stained!
Magda Kuca is a Polish visual artist and fine art photographer based in London. Her work delves into the cyclical nature of human rituals, using historical photographic techniques to explore themes of identity, memory, and folklore.
A passionate advocate for Victorian and experimental photography, she leads workshops on various processes, including cyanotype, wet plate collodion, electrophotography, anthotype, and mordançage, both in the UK and Poland. Magda has collaborated with prestigious institutions and galleries, including the British Museum, University of the Arts London, WeTransfer, Kew Gardens, and BBC Radio.
The course is limited to a maximum of 5 people. Please note, we require a minimum of 4 bookings to run the course.
Members Discount
Photofusion Members receive a 15% discount on all courses please use the discount code shared with you in the members newsletter. Add this when prompted to the order summary page to receive your member discount. If you didn't receive the code please email us at info@photofusion.org
Dates: 9 August 2025
Days: Saturday
Time: 10:30 - 17:30
Length: 1 Day
Tutor: Magda Kuca
Mordançage is a historic photographic process where a darkroom print is chemically manipulated to create an ethereal, three-dimensional quality by physically lifting, repositioning, and securing the darkest areas of a black-and-white print.
First discovered by Paul Liesegang in the late 1800s, it was initially designed for use with negatives and was known by various terms, including bleach-etch, etch-bleach, gelatin relief, and reverse relief. In the 1960s, Jean-Pierre Sudre developed the process for prints and coined the name "Mordançage" from the French word mordre, meaning "to bite." It quickly became popular for its ability to produce surreal, striking images.
In this full-day course, Magda will guide you through the basics of the Mordançage process, including bleaching, redevelopment, and a simplified method for producing digital negatives for contact printing with silver gelatin paper. By the end of the day, you’ll gain a new skill in Mordançage and leave with 4–6 unique prints.
This course is designed for beginners, though some prior darkroom experience is recommended.
The Course Covers:
Health & Safety Guidelines: Overview of key safety practices for working in the darkroom.
Introduction to Mordançage Equipment & Chemistry: Learn about the tools and chemicals used in the Mordançage process.
Creating Digital Negatives: Each participant will create a digital negative from a file and can bring existing 35mm or 6x6 black-and-white film for contact printing.
Developing Black-and-White Prints: Techniques for developing black-and-white prints to prepare for the Mordançage process
Processing Photographs with Mordançage Bleach: Step-by-step guidance on how to manipulate your prints with the Mordançage bleach for a surreal effect.
Troubleshooting and Tips: Solutions to common challenges in the process and guidance on selecting the best photographs for Mordançage.
Note: Participants will receive tips on selecting photographs in advance. Feel free to bring one printed silver gelatin print and a digital file for use during the workshop. Don't forget to wear comfortable darkroom clothing, as it may get stained!
Magda Kuca is a Polish visual artist and fine art photographer based in London. Her work delves into the cyclical nature of human rituals, using historical photographic techniques to explore themes of identity, memory, and folklore.
A passionate advocate for Victorian and experimental photography, she leads workshops on various processes, including cyanotype, wet plate collodion, electrophotography, anthotype, and mordançage, both in the UK and Poland. Magda has collaborated with prestigious institutions and galleries, including the British Museum, University of the Arts London, WeTransfer, Kew Gardens, and BBC Radio.
The course is limited to a maximum of 5 people. Please note, we require a minimum of 4 bookings to run the course.
Members Discount
Photofusion Members receive a 15% discount on all courses please use the discount code shared with you in the members newsletter. Add this when prompted to the order summary page to receive your member discount. If you didn't receive the code please email us at info@photofusion.org
Dates: 9 August 2025
Days: Saturday
Time: 10:30 - 17:30
Length: 1 Day
Tutor: Magda Kuca
Mordançage is a historic photographic process where a darkroom print is chemically manipulated to create an ethereal, three-dimensional quality by physically lifting, repositioning, and securing the darkest areas of a black-and-white print.
First discovered by Paul Liesegang in the late 1800s, it was initially designed for use with negatives and was known by various terms, including bleach-etch, etch-bleach, gelatin relief, and reverse relief. In the 1960s, Jean-Pierre Sudre developed the process for prints and coined the name "Mordançage" from the French word mordre, meaning "to bite." It quickly became popular for its ability to produce surreal, striking images.
In this full-day course, Magda will guide you through the basics of the Mordançage process, including bleaching, redevelopment, and a simplified method for producing digital negatives for contact printing with silver gelatin paper. By the end of the day, you’ll gain a new skill in Mordançage and leave with 4–6 unique prints.
This course is designed for beginners, though some prior darkroom experience is recommended.
The Course Covers:
Health & Safety Guidelines: Overview of key safety practices for working in the darkroom.
Introduction to Mordançage Equipment & Chemistry: Learn about the tools and chemicals used in the Mordançage process.
Creating Digital Negatives: Each participant will create a digital negative from a file and can bring existing 35mm or 6x6 black-and-white film for contact printing.
Developing Black-and-White Prints: Techniques for developing black-and-white prints to prepare for the Mordançage process
Processing Photographs with Mordançage Bleach: Step-by-step guidance on how to manipulate your prints with the Mordançage bleach for a surreal effect.
Troubleshooting and Tips: Solutions to common challenges in the process and guidance on selecting the best photographs for Mordançage.
Note: Participants will receive tips on selecting photographs in advance. Feel free to bring one printed silver gelatin print and a digital file for use during the workshop. Don't forget to wear comfortable darkroom clothing, as it may get stained!
Magda Kuca is a Polish visual artist and fine art photographer based in London. Her work delves into the cyclical nature of human rituals, using historical photographic techniques to explore themes of identity, memory, and folklore.
A passionate advocate for Victorian and experimental photography, she leads workshops on various processes, including cyanotype, wet plate collodion, electrophotography, anthotype, and mordançage, both in the UK and Poland. Magda has collaborated with prestigious institutions and galleries, including the British Museum, University of the Arts London, WeTransfer, Kew Gardens, and BBC Radio.
The course is limited to a maximum of 5 people. Please note, we require a minimum of 4 bookings to run the course.
Members Discount
Photofusion Members receive a 15% discount on all courses please use the discount code shared with you in the members newsletter. Add this when prompted to the order summary page to receive your member discount. If you didn't receive the code please email us at info@photofusion.org