S. John's Church, Pentrobin Possibly 1895 - 1896

Curator: This photograph, titled "S. John's Church, Pentrobin," likely taken around 1895-96 by Agnes Wilson, really makes me think about the materials that constitute both the building and its photographic representation. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It's such a simple image, but there is a kind of stillness. Given that it is printed within the pages of a book, I find the layering of the image fascinating. What draws your attention in this piece? Curator: The choice of photography as a medium to document architecture at this time is key. We must consider the economic implications of such an endeavour. The act of photographing, printing, and binding these images in a book creates a tangible artifact of cultural and industrial processes. Why reproduce it so many times? Who could access these images? What were the conditions of labor behind producing and reproducing these photographic prints? Editor: So you are saying that photography changes the church from just a religious institution into something produced? A commodified image. Curator: Precisely. Look at the photographic print itself – consider the chemical processes, the paper quality. How does the materiality of this book reflect, or even reinforce, the social structures associated with the church it depicts? Is the book as embellished and decorative as the church building, and what does that comparison evoke in you? Editor: I see what you mean, looking at it in that context, it’s more than just an image, it reflects an era of manufacturing and reproduction. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: Of course. Considering art as a material production allows us to uncover rich insights into the labor, resources, and power dynamics that shaped its creation and reception.