Gems of Photographic Art: Photo-Pictures Selected from the Universal Series c. 1871

Curator: Here we have a page from "Gems of Photographic Art: Photo-Pictures Selected from the Universal Series" by Francis Frith. Editor: It’s surprisingly stark, isn't it? Just a title page, it seems, with elegant but simple calligraphy on a pale surface. Curator: Yes, the typography itself is quite revealing. The deliberate arrangement, the flourishes... It speaks to a certain aspirational class and the role of education in social mobility. Editor: It’s also a reminder of the commercialization of photography at the time. Frith was mass-producing images, but this presentation hints at a precious object. Curator: Precisely! The very title "Gems" elevates these photographic prints. The binding and presentation become as important as the content. Editor: I see the contrast between the modern technology of photography and the older world of bound books. It shows how new media fits into existing cultural forms. Curator: Indeed, and it underscores the early struggle to define photography's place within the established hierarchy of artistic mediums. Editor: Well, it's certainly a fascinating look at how photography sought to establish its value in the 19th century.