Crab Inn te Shanklin Possibly 1889

This photograph, Crab Inn in Shanklin, was taken by Henry Pauw van Wieldrecht, we believe sometime in the late 19th century. It's a modest-sized print, and the process by which it was made – most likely an albumen print - involved coating paper with egg whites and silver nitrate. The resulting image has a distinctive sepia tone and a slightly glossy surface, made possible by the material of the egg. The tonality creates a sense of gentle nostalgia, but it's also a direct result of the materials used. Photography at this time was a slow, considered process. The composition, with its carefully arranged buildings and figures, suggests that van Wieldrecht was thinking in painterly terms. He has also inscribed the title of the place below the print on the album page. The photograph gives us a glimpse into the past. It captures a moment in time, preserved through the specific chemistry of photography at that moment in history. It bridges the gap between fine art and craft and asks us to consider the artistic intentions and historical context, that are intrinsic to any photograph.