Gezicht op Byland Abbey before 1864

This is Thomas Ogle’s photographic print of Byland Abbey, pasted into a book. Though photography had become more commonplace by the mid-19th century, it remained a specialized skill. Creating a successful image required expertise in optics, chemistry, and printing techniques. This contrasts with the mass production of photographs today, revealing a more hands-on, craft-based approach to photography, and a more expensive, bespoke product. The tonal range is limited; this is what gives the image its atmospheric quality. Light and shadow play across the ruins of the abbey, highlighting its architectural details. The print is small, which lends it an intimate quality. You can imagine someone carefully pasting it into this book, wanting to preserve and share the view of the abbey. Thinking about the labor involved in its creation, from the photographer capturing the image to the printer developing it, reminds us that even seemingly simple images have a rich backstory of materials and processes, connecting art to broader social and economic contexts.