Newhaven Fishermen 1843 - 1847

This photograph of Newhaven Fishermen was created between 1843 and 1848 by Hill and Adamson using a calotype, an early photographic process. Unlike later photographic prints on paper, a calotype involves coating paper with silver iodide, exposing it in a camera, and then developing the latent image. The process gives the final print a distinctive soft, almost grainy quality, evident in the depiction of the fishermen's clothing and faces. This texture is a direct result of the materials and techniques used. Beyond the artistry, the image carries social significance. In capturing the working class, Hill and Adamson were participating in the broader shift towards documenting everyday life, in contrast to traditional portraiture of the elite. These images serve as a tangible connection to a specific time, place, and community, reminding us that artistic value can be found in the intersection of material, process, and social context.