Rocken End in a Storm, Isle of Wight c. 1853

This is Roger Fenton’s "Rocken End in a Storm, Isle of Wight," a landscape photograph printed on albumen silver. During the Victorian era, landscape photography emerged as a powerful medium for shaping perceptions of nature. Fenton, one of the pioneers of this movement, captures the sublime power of nature, but also hints at the era’s complex relationship with the environment. His choice of a stormy scene and a remote location evokes feelings of isolation and vulnerability. This approach speaks to the Victorian fascination with the sublime – that overwhelming sense of awe mixed with fear, when confronted by the power of the natural world. It also serves as a subtle reminder of humanity's place within the grand scheme of the universe.