Groepsportret van vier broeders van de St. Cross church before 1868

This is a photograph, made by William Savage sometime in the first half of the 19th century. It shows a group portrait of four brothers of the St. Cross church. This image belongs to the earliest era of photography, a time when the medium was as much science as art. Early processes involved coating a metal or glass plate with light-sensitive chemicals. Then, the subject would need to sit perfectly still for a long exposure, perhaps several minutes, while the camera captured the image. The resulting photograph has a stark, almost ghostly quality, that results from the long exposure. In this image, we can discern the soft focus and limited tonal range, that makes it look so unlike contemporary photographs. The four brothers appear serious and composed, and the setting provides a glimpse into their world. The photograph is a valuable record of a specific time and place. This image reflects a fusion of craft, science, and artistry, and invites us to consider the cultural and social implications of early photography.