Sir David Brewster 1842 - 1846

This is a calotype print made between 1843 and 1848 by Hill and Adamson. Using paper coated with silver iodide, this early photographic process resulted in a slightly blurred, ethereal image, which you can see clearly here. The rough texture of the paper support is visible, as is the tonal range from warm browns to sepia shades. The sitter, Sir David Brewster, is captured in a moment of quiet contemplation, reading a book. The process would have demanded that he sit perfectly still for a prolonged period. What is remarkable about calotype, is the way it democratized image production. Unlike earlier photographic methods, it yielded a negative, allowing for multiple prints. This innovation opened up new possibilities for documentation and portraiture, and signaled a profound shift in the relationship between art, technology, and society. It transformed visual culture, moving it away from unique handcrafted artworks, towards mass-produced images, reflecting the wider industrial and social changes of the 19th century.