Interieur van St Botolph's Church in Boston (Engeland) 1900

This photograph of St Botolph's Church in Boston, England, was taken by James Valentine sometime in the 19th century. Notice the tonal range that Valentine was able to achieve with this print. Early photography like this was a chemical process above all else, as Valentine would have been deeply involved in the preparation of his materials. There is an alchemical quality to it, an index of the artist's close attention to the combination of light-sensitive materials that would yield an image. It’s also important to remember the labor involved. From quarrying stone to cutting glass, countless artisans were involved in the making of a space like this. Valentine's photograph captures not just a building, but a monument to collective work, a cathedral of craft, and a testament to the social forces required for the production of sacred architecture.