Gezicht op National Gallery of Schotland en Edinburgh Castle c. 1862 - 1867

This is a photograph titled 'Gezicht op National Gallery of Schotland en Edinburgh Castle' by Archibald Burns. Burns chose photography at a time when it was becoming more commonplace, yet still required specialized skill in both the operation of equipment, and the darkroom processes of developing. This image, pasted into an album page, presents a view of the National Gallery of Scotland and Edinburgh Castle. The tonal range of the print gives the image a certain depth, emphasizing the textures of the stone buildings and the landscape around them. Photography allowed for the mass production of images, contributing to a growing visual culture in society. It democratized access to art and allowed for the documentation of places and events on a scale previously unimaginable. Consider the labor involved in creating not only this image, but the album in which it resides, and how these objects allowed people to see and understand their world. Ultimately, Burns' photograph reminds us that understanding an artwork involves recognizing the materials, the making, and the broader context in which it was created.