Grasmere. c. 1865

Editor: This is "Grasmere" by Francis Frith. It's a black and white photograph, and the textures in the water and the foliage are lovely. What's your take on it? Curator: I see a carefully constructed image, but I'm drawn to the material reality of its production. Consider the labor involved in producing this image. The photographer's craft, the resources extracted to create the photographic chemicals and paper, and the social context of landscape consumption in Victorian England. Editor: So, you're looking at the bigger picture, beyond just the scenery? Curator: Exactly! How the photograph itself is a product of a specific time and place, reflecting economic and industrial forces. It makes you question the romantic ideal of untouched nature, doesn't it? Editor: Definitely gives me a different perspective. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It’s important to remember that even seemingly simple images carry complex histories of production.