Henry VII's Chapel Date Unknown

This photograph of Henry VII's Chapel was made anonymously, using a camera and darkroom processes. The sepia tone comes from the development chemistry. Now, consider what's being depicted here: not just a building, but an almost impossibly ornate display of stone carving. The chapel, part of Westminster Abbey, was built between 1503 and 1512. Think of the labor involved in its construction. Every surface is articulated. It is an architecture of excess. The photograph, though far removed from that original building process, shares something of its character. Each print required careful work in the darkroom, a kind of alchemy. Photography at this time, prior to industrialization, can be thought of as a skilled practice, like masonry. By dwelling on the image, we’re invited to consider the vast amounts of work—both past and present—that went into its making. It bridges craft and fine arts.