May Prinsep 1868

Julia Margaret Cameron made this photographic portrait of May Prinsep using the wet collodion process. This technique involved coating a glass plate with a sticky, light-sensitive chemical emulsion, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then developing it immediately. Notice the soft focus and ethereal quality, a deliberate choice by Cameron, pushing against the sharp clarity typically prized in photography. The process itself was demanding, requiring technical skill and speed. But it also allowed for a certain amount of artistic manipulation in the darkroom. More than just a record, this photograph reflects Cameron’s artistic sensibility, her interest in capturing the inner character of her sitter. It challenges the notion of photography as purely objective, highlighting the hand of the artist in shaping the final image. Cameron elevates photography to the realm of fine art, blurring the lines between technical process and artistic expression.