Gezicht op Newport-on-Tay bij Dundee before 1890

This print of Newport-on-Tay near Dundee was made by Valentine & Sons, who were active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Photography in this period was an alchemical process, using light-sensitive emulsions on glass plates or paper, and the results often had a distinctive tonal range, which you can see here. The scene is rendered in shades of gray and white, with a wonderful atmospheric quality. What interests me most about this image is that it comes from a book. Photography was becoming a hugely important medium, yet here it is still being presented within the framework of print culture. It speaks of the ways in which new technologies are always received in dialogue with older ones. Ultimately, this book raises questions about the nature of progress, and the relationship between tradition and innovation in art. By considering the material and its original context, we gain a richer understanding of the work.