Gezicht op Conwy Castle before 1870

Editor: This gelatin silver print by Francis Bedford, titled "Gezicht op Conwy Castle," seems to capture a very specific moment in time, likely before 1870. I'm struck by how the photographic process renders the castle's texture. What stands out to you in this image? Curator: Immediately, I notice the materiality of this image and the implications of its production. We need to consider how the gelatin-silver process itself shaped what we are seeing. What kind of labor and technology was involved? Who had access to this technology and what stories can we weave around that fact? Editor: That's fascinating! So you're saying that by understanding how the image was made, we understand who got to document and see these sights? Curator: Precisely. Photography in the mid-19th century wasn’t exactly mass consumption, meaning photographs could embody ideas of power and ownership of a place and time. Consider, too, that landscapes like this fed into a specific image of British national identity – something that was very carefully curated for local consumption and the export market. Editor: That's something I had never really considered. I always think of photographs as just capturing reality, not *shaping* it. Curator: It's easy to forget the layers of technology, labor, and intention. How do the stark contrasts of light and shadow and the precision of the gelatin-silver printing process contribute to the imposing image of Conwy Castle? The industrial process is essential to interpreting the cultural importance. Editor: This is amazing. Now I want to research the distribution of photographs during this time! Thank you, I've learned so much today. Curator: And I was pleased to consider new perspectives to appreciate this photograph!