An Eel-Catcher's Home 1886

Peter Henry Emerson made this photograph, "An Eel-Catcher's Home," using a platinum printing process. This was considered to be a fine art technique at the time. Notice the extraordinary tonal range, which creates an atmospheric effect. Yet the subject matter focuses on the everyday labor of eel catching. Look at the man with his net, his small boat, and the simple dwelling behind him. The photograph gives us a glimpse into his working life, and his reliance on the river for sustenance. Emerson was interested in capturing rural life with an unvarnished realism. He was part of a movement that challenged the dominance of staged, artificial photography. But what I find compelling is the way he took a high-art process, platinum printing, and used it to document the realities of working-class existence. This challenges the distinction between fine art and documentary, and makes us think about the value of labor.