Oak Struck by Lightning, Badger, 1856. 1856

"Oak Struck by Lightning, Badger," a melancholic photograph, was made in 1856 by Alfred Capel Cure using the collodion process on glass. In the mid-19th century, photography emerged as a powerful tool for documenting the natural world, yet it was also shaped by prevailing cultural attitudes. Against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution, many artists looked to nature with a sense of romantic longing. This image of a ruined tree can be seen as an allegory of resilience, of bearing witness to nature’s force. The stark realism of photography captures the brutal impact of the lightning, laying bare the vulnerability of even the most venerable natural forms. In a way, this image speaks to the anxieties of its time. Ultimately, "Oak Struck by Lightning" is a reflection on the transience of life. It quietly asks us to consider our own place within the vast and indifferent unfolding of time.