Full Moon before 1873

This is Warren De La Rue’s “Full Moon”, a photograph printed on a page in a book. This was made at a time when photography was still a relatively new medium. During this time, the moon held cultural and social importance, embodying themes of change, mystery, and femininity. In many societies, the moon was associated with goddesses, cycles of life, and the subconscious, deeply embedded in folklore and mythology. De La Rue sought to explore the moon’s surface in a way that moved beyond mere aesthetics. This pursuit was part of a broader societal trend, where science and art began to intersect more explicitly, and photography served as a tool for both documentation and artistic expression. This image of the full moon invites a moment of contemplation about our place in the cosmos.