Binnenplaats van Ightham Mote vlakbij Ightham before 1876

This is a photograph by Stephen Thompson, showing the courtyard of Ightham Mote, a historic house in Kent. It’s a photogravure, which is a labor-intensive printmaking process involving etching a copper plate and then using it to transfer an image onto paper. Photogravure was prized for its tonal range and velvety blacks. You can see that here, in the way the light rakes across the weathered timbers of the house, and the dense foliage. The process was favored by artists who wanted to give photography the status of fine art, because each print was unique. The choice of subject matter is significant too. Ightham Mote is a quintessential English country house. By using a handcrafted process to depict this scene, Thompson emphasizes the value of tradition and the handmade. He elevates both the house and the printing method, suggesting that both represent enduring cultural values worth preserving amidst industrial change.