Coln Church + Mr Kent; 3 Miss Wallingtons 1853 - 1856

John Dillwyn Llewelyn captured "Coln Church + Mr Kent; 3 Miss Wallingtons" using photography, a relatively new medium in the 19th century. Consider the social context of Victorian England. The image reflects the era's emphasis on social class, gender roles, and family. The separate images, one of the church with Mr. Kent, and another of the three Miss Wallingtons, speaks to the structured nature of Victorian society and the roles of women within it. The church signifies the importance of religion and community, while the portrayal of women, likely of a privileged background, highlights the era's gendered expectations. Llewelyn, who came from a family of scientific and artistic interests, used photography to explore themes of place and identity. The photograph offers a glimpse into the lives of individuals shaped by the rigid social norms of their time. It invites us to reflect on the ways in which gender, class, and societal expectations shaped the experiences of people in the Victorian era, connecting the historical past to our contemporary understanding of identity.