Paul Briol: Passed Forward, Selections from the UC Art Collection

The DAAP Galleries, in collaboration with the University of Cincinnati Art Collection, present a wide selection of works by noted journalist and photographer Paul Briol (1889–1969). With more than 400 prints in the collection, this survey delves into the archive to examine Briol’s documentation of the built and natural environment during the first half of the 20th century. The prints feature sites that define Cincinnati’s past, resonate in the present, and influence the future. These images, shot and developed in numerous iterations often on an 8-by-10-inch view camera mounted on a tripod, demonstrate a pursuit of aesthetic and technical perfection, with an astute sensibility for light and composition. Briol, known for his photographs of current iconic landmarks while still in their infancy, also thoroughly captured images of the Ohio River Valley and the seven hills of Cincinnati, and later, of his mid-century travels west leading to the coast. These documents capture the fleeting shadows and the still-enduring landmarks that form a shared sense of place, identity, and community. This collection stands as a testament to Briol’s contributions to the art of photography, while capturing a formative era in Cincinnati’s history.