Ware, Herts c. 1880s

Peter Henry Emerson made this platinum print, "Ware, Herts," in England, at the end of the 19th century. He was interested in the ways photography could picture the rural world, and this image shows a tranquil scene of boathouses and waterways. The misty atmosphere and soft focus evoke a sense of nostalgia for a way of life that was fast disappearing, as England industrialized. Emerson's images can be situated within the broader context of debates about the purpose of photography. Was it a tool for objective documentation or a medium for artistic expression? Emerson himself argued strongly for the latter, even though the photographic societies tended to classify photography as a craft. To understand Emerson's place in the art world, it's helpful to explore the exhibition histories of photography, its critical reception in the art press, and the arguments of figures like Emerson. These sources show how photography gradually came to be accepted as a fine art.