Guy Fawkes 1853

This is John Dillwyn Llewelyn’s photograph, ‘Guy Fawkes’. While undated, it was likely made in the mid-19th century using the wet collodion process, a technique which allowed for the creation of finely detailed images. The photograph depicts a group of people gathered around a bonfire, seemingly commemorating Guy Fawkes Night, a British tradition celebrating the failure of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The figures are arranged in a tableau, their static poses reminiscent of a staged performance. Llewelyn was a member of the British upper class. The photograph may reflect his social standing and cultural values. The act of burning Guy Fawkes in effigy was historically tied to Protestant nationalism, a tradition with complex roots in religious and political conflict. As you reflect on this photograph, consider how such celebrations shape collective memory and social identity. How do these performances serve to unify some, while simultaneously marginalizing others?