Ely Cathedral: Choir from an Engraving c. 1891

This is "Ely Cathedral: Choir from an Engraving" by Frederick H. Evans. The photograph is a tight composition of the interior of Ely Cathedral. The photograph is dominated by a grid like pattern formed by the architecture of the cathedral. Evans uses the camera to isolate and abstract the architectural elements, emphasizing their intricate patterns and geometric forms. The arches, windows, and ornate details are flattened into a series of interconnected shapes, creating a mesmerizing visual rhythm. Evans seems to be engaging with ideas of pictorialism, where photography emulates painting through soft focus and atmospheric effects, to explore photography as a form of artistic expression. By focusing on the formal qualities of the architecture, Evans invites us to contemplate the underlying structures of beauty and order inherent in both the cathedral and the photographic medium itself. The photograph challenges traditional representations of space and perspective.