The Avery oak, Dedham before 1890

Henry Brooks captured 'The Avery Oak, Dedham' using a photographic process of some kind. The black and white print emphasizes the stark contrast between the organic form of the oak tree and the geometric shape of the nearby house. The image-making process itself is interesting here. Unlike a painting, which involves the direct application of pigment, photography relies on a chemical reaction to light. This introduces a layer of mechanical mediation that ties it to wider processes of industrialization and mass production. The photograph’s very texture and materiality speak to these issues of labor, politics, and consumption. The tones, the composition, and the subject matter all contribute to the artwork's layered meaning and significance, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.