photogénique

Forms

photogénique (plural photogéniques)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from English photogenic, in particular from the phrase photogenic drawing, Talbot's name for the photograph (January 1839).^[2] The English word was formed on a Greek pattern from Ancient Greek φῶς (phôs, “light”) and γεννάω (gennáō, “to beget, produce”), as were the French elements photo- and -génique.^[2][3][4] The Grand Robert also analyses it as formed from French photo- + -génique after the English word.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in a letter by H. F. Talbot of 21 February 1839, printed in the Comptes rendus of the Académie des sciences, for processes that form images through the chemical action of light.^[2] The Grand Robert dates to 1839 (Arago) a sense “producing light”.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Because photographique took over as the general word, photogénique narrowed to “suited to photography”.^[2] Littré in 1869 defines it as “coming out well in photography”, and after 1932 it was also said of people and faces that look better on film or in photographs than in life.^[2][3][6] English photogenic took the sense “photographing well” in 1928.^[4]

Timeline

• 1839 – Talbot's letter in the Comptes rendus uses it of images made by light.^[2]
• 1858 – The Petit Robert's date for the sense “giving a clear image in photography”.^[6]
• 1869 – Littré records “that comes out well in photography”.^[2][3]
• 1928 – English photogenic is first used for “photographing well”.^[4]
• 1932 – The Larousse records it of a person who looks good on film or in photographs.^[3][6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (physics) Relating to the chemical effects of light, or able to produce them.^[2][3]
2. (photography) Giving a clear, well-contrasted image in a photograph.^[6][3]
3. Photogenic: looking better in photographs or on film than in reality: une chanteuse très photogénique.^[6][7][1]

Word family

• photogénie

Related words

• photographie
• photographique
• photogène
• English photogenic

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
7. ^ Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)