HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY photo retouch from retouching; also called the French "pupitre". On the tilted frosted glass; the negative (or positive) to be retouched was positioned; which was illuminated from behind thanks to the reflection of the white panel (or mirror) placed at the base of the viewer. The upper panel attenuated the ambient light and helped to eliminate reflections. Engraved by J. Blanadet from the French manual of the late nineteenth century