[Wild Fennel] 1841 - 1842

"[Wild Fennel]" (1841-1842) is a calotype photograph by William Henry Fox Talbot. It depicts a delicate arrangement of fennel branches, rendered in stark white against a dark background. Talbot, a pioneer of photography, captured the intricate detail of the plant's structure through the unique process of calotype, an early photographic technique that utilized paper negatives. The piece highlights Talbot's exploration of nature through the lens of the camera, showcasing his interest in both the scientific and artistic possibilities of the medium.