The Black Pool, Near Hoddesdon c. 1880s

Peter Henry Emerson's "The Black Pool, Near Hoddesdon" is a striking example of his "naturalistic" photographic style. Taken in the 1880s, the photograph showcases a serene landscape with a winding river, its surface reflecting the surrounding trees. The composition is simple, emphasizing the natural beauty of the scene through soft light and muted tones. Emerson, a pioneering figure in the development of photography as an art form, aimed to capture the everyday world with a sense of immediacy, eschewing the studio-based and posed photography common at the time. This photograph exemplifies Emerson's commitment to capturing the essence of nature in its purest form.