--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Considering that knowledge of the…" description: "\"Considering that knowledge of the chemical as well as the optical principles of photography was fairly widespread following Schulze's experiment (in 17..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/helmut-gernsheim-49333_artist_considering-that-knowledge-of-the-chemic_1434064.jpg" --- # Considering that knowledge of the chemical as well as the… ![“Considering that knowledge of the chemical as well as the optical principles of photography was fairly widespread following Schulze's experiment (in 1725)... the circumstance that photography was not invented earlier remains the greatest mystery in its history... It had apparently never occurred…” quote by Helmut Gernsheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/helmut-gernsheim-49333_artist_considering-that-knowledge-of-the-chemic_1434064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/helmut-gernsheim-49333_artist_considering-that-knowledge-of-the-chemic_1434064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bf/helmut-gernsheim-49333_artist_considering-that-knowledge-of-the-chemic_1434064.jpg) > “Considering that knowledge of the chemical as well as the optical principles of photography was fairly widespread following Schulze's experiment (in 1725)... the circumstance that photography was not invented earlier remains the greatest mystery in its history... It had apparently never occurred to any of the multitude of artists of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries who were in the habit of using the camera obscura to try to fix its image permanently.” [Helmut Gernsheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-gernsheim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The delay in inventing photography despite known chemistry and optics is puzzling, showing how breakthroughs need the right convergence of ideas and context. **In simple terms:** Why it took long for photography to appear despite known science. Key Takeaway Recognize that timing and interdisciplinary insight matter. Themes history science innovation art technology Mood curious reflective Type historical analytical When to use this quote - museum curation - academic research - technology development - artistic practice Key Concepts optics chemistry cultural context interdisciplinary collaboration Questions to Reflect On - What conditions are needed for a scientific idea to become a technology? - How do cultural attitudes affect innovation? A Different Perspective Even with knowledge, societal and practical factors can stall invention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Camera obscura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camera-obscura-26902/) [Cameras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cameras/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Chemicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chemicals/) [Circumstances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/circumstances/) [Considering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/considering/) [Experiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experiments/) [Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Invented Earlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invented-earlier-4264971/) [Multitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multitudes/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Optical Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optical-principles-3677124/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Photography Invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography-invented-1811450/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Remains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remains/) [Schulze Experiment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schulze-experiment-5113549/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [That's why it's always worth having a few philosophers around the place. One minute it's all is truth beauty and is beauty truth, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/that-s-why-it-s-always-worth-having-a-few-philosophers-around-the/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Had Twitter been invented earlier, my books would have been shorter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/had-twitter-been-invented-earlier-my-books-would-have-been-shorter/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Photography was not invented to serve a clearly understood function. 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Reviving magical memories is weaving life with fantastic thread.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indeewara-jayawardane/photos-are-moments-in-the-history-reviving-magical-memories-is/) [Indeewara Jayawardane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indeewara-jayawardane/) > [“Do you remember the total eclipse of 3680 when we made a camera obscura so we could see it without burning our eyes?” “A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-stephenson/do-you-remember-the-total-eclipse-of-3680-when-we-made-a-camera/) [Neal Stephenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-stephenson/) > [Creation rather than painting, or if painting, yet such, and with such co-presence of the whole picture flash'd at once upon the eye, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/creation-rather-than-painting-or-if-painting-yet-such-and-with-such/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## More by Helmut Gernsheim > [Photography is the only “language” understood in all parts of the world, and bridging all nations and cultures, it links the family of man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-gernsheim/photography-is-the-only-language-understood-in-all-parts-of-the-world/) [Helmut Gernsheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-gernsheim/) > [Your nightmare existence in a trunk is over... At long last you will be recognized as the inventor of photography. This picture will prove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-gernsheim/your-nightmare-existence-in-a-trunk-is-over-at-long-last-you-will-be/) [Helmut Gernsheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-gernsheim/) > [Photography is the only "language" understood in all parts of the world, and, bridging all nations and cultures, it links the family of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helmut-gernsheim/photography-is-the-only-language-understood-in-all-parts-of-the-world-2/) [Helmut Gernsheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helmut-gernsheim/) > [I think only a superb news or reportage picture could move me. 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