View at Hebron 1856 - 1858

Editor: So, this is Francis Frith's "View at Hebron," a photograph with no specified date, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The stark contrast between the foreground and distant city is striking. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Frith's work offers a glimpse into 19th-century photographic practices. It's important to consider the materials, the chemicals, and the labor involved in creating an image like this at that time. How do these technical aspects affect the way we perceive the subject matter? Editor: That's interesting, I hadn't thought about the chemistry side of things. It does make it feel more substantial somehow. Curator: Exactly. It shifts our focus from a simple depiction of a place to the means of its production and circulation, the social implications of seeing this view produced using such labor. Editor: That's a completely new way of looking at it for me. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure, it's all about understanding the means of production.