I think on the Laddie that lo'es me so well 1882

This photograph, "I think on the Laddie that lo'es me so well," was made by Henry Peach Robinson in the late 19th century, using a photographic process printed on paper. In Robinson's time, photography was a complex chemical process, involving coating, exposing, and developing light-sensitive materials. In this case, it would have involved skilled manipulation to create a scene evocative of sentimental genre painting, a very different practice than snapshot photography today. Look closely and you'll notice a certain soft-focus effect. This was in part an intentional aesthetic choice on Robinson's part, and in part due to the relative limitations of the photographic technology at the time. The labor that went into this image, while less visible than in a painting or sculpture, speaks to the commitment of early photographers to establishing their medium as a fine art. Understanding this history helps us appreciate the choices Robinson made, and see how the techniques and materials shaped the picture's meaning.