Exterieur van Rockingham Castle before 1870

This is a photograph of Rockingham Castle, made by Charles Drake sometime between 1846 and 1874. It is a rather unassuming image. It shows a modest country estate rendered in tones of brown, grey, and white. The photo was made using the albumen process, which was common at the time. It involves coating a sheet of paper with egg white and silver nitrate, then exposing it to light through a negative. It was a laborious process, and highly dependent on the efficient management of materials and labor. As photography became increasingly popular, industrial manufacturers were needed to ensure a stable and standardized photographic paper, thus creating new forms of employment, whilst increasing the access of photographs to more and more people. Considered in this light, Drake’s image of Rockingham Castle is more than just a pretty view. It is the result of many hands, processes, and materials, each of which has its own social and economic context. By considering these factors, we can more fully appreciate the work of art, and challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.