View of Transept, Looking South 1851

Hugh Owen captured this photograph of the Crystal Palace, likely in the 1850s, using the calotype process. The Crystal Palace was originally erected in London for the Great Exhibition of 1851, a symbol of Victorian England's industrial and imperial ambitions. The photograph offers us a glimpse into the architecture and design of the building, meant to house exhibits from around the world, many of which were from Britain’s colonies. Looking at the photograph today, we might consider what it meant to display cultural artifacts and natural resources taken from other lands in such a setting, effectively turning them into spectacles of British power and wealth. The photograph, therefore, serves not only as a historical document but also prompts a reflection on the dynamics of colonialism and representation inherent in such exhibitions. It asks us to consider whose stories are being told and whose are being left out.