Carolling Possibly 1887 - 1890

Henry Peach Robinson made this photograph, "Carolling," using a combination printing process. A sepia tone bathes the entire scene. A large portion of the frame is filled with mist and open fields. The horizontal lines of the ground plane and distant treeline provide a subtle structure, against the soft, rounded forms of sheep and the figures of two women. The composition has a clear foreground and background, connected by a diagonal pathway. This directs our eye through the scene. Robinson uses tonal contrast to separate the figures from the background, which enhances the emotional quietness of the image. Robinson, influenced by Pre-Raphaelite painting, often constructed idealized scenes. Here, the women, perhaps engaged in a pastoral carol, exist in harmony with the sheep. Yet, the photograph’s constructed nature invites us to consider how reality is mediated. The misty atmosphere obscures details, emphasizing a sense of timelessness. It is a visual reminder that representation is always an interpretation.