The Old Sulphur Well, Harrogate. c. 1865

Editor: This is Francis Frith's "The Old Sulphur Well, Harrogate." It's a black and white photograph with a domed structure as the focal point. What strikes me is the contrast between the architecture and the everyday street scene. What do you see in this piece? Curator: For me, it's about the commodification of health. Harrogate was a spa town, and this well was the source. Frith, as a commercial photographer, documented and, in a way, marketed this experience. Consider how this image, reproduced and sold, fueled the desire for consumption of this location. Editor: So, it’s not just about the image itself, but its role in creating a market? Curator: Precisely. The photograph itself becomes a tool, a material object within a system of health tourism and social status. Editor: That gives me a new perspective; it's more than just a pretty picture. Curator: Indeed, thinking about the materials and means of production reveals a larger story.