The Sweet Water Fountain 1853 - 1856

John Dillwyn Llewelyn captured "The Sweet Water Fountain" at Caswell Bay using the calotype process, a technique that allowed for multiple prints, a distinct move away from unique, one-off images. Born into a privileged background, Llewelyn's access to technology and education shaped his artistic endeavors, differentiating his experience from those excluded due to class. He used photography not just to document, but to explore his relationship with the natural world, an escape from the societal expectations of his time. The photograph invites us to reflect on the romanticism of natural springs. The fountain suggests purity, and the gendering of nature as feminine was a common trope. Consider how the act of naming and photographing a place is an assertion of ownership, and how that intersects with colonial practices. Ultimately, Llewelyn's work serves as a reminder of how personal identity and societal structures influence our interpretation and interaction with the environment.