Gezicht op High Street te Oxford c. 1850 - 1880

Editor: Here we have Alexander Wilson's "Gezicht op High Street te Oxford," a gelatin silver print from around 1850-1880. It’s a rather quiet scene, a streetscape, and I'm curious about its context. What strikes you about this image? Curator: Immediately, I'm drawn to the process of creating this gelatin silver print. Think about the labor involved in the mid-19th century to capture such an image, developing the materials. The composition isn't just a snapshot of a street; it represents a deliberate engagement with the burgeoning industrial processes. Editor: Industrial processes? In what way? Curator: Well, the reproducibility of photography itself reflects industrialization. Gelatin silver printing allowed for greater detail and tonal range than earlier photographic methods, signifying technological advancement impacting art. Look at the precision – the way architecture is captured in detail, it speaks to how technology can refine representation, and further enable production and control of that image for economic gain. Editor: That’s interesting! I hadn’t thought of the printing process as part of the story of the artwork itself. Curator: Consider the societal context. This photograph, likely intended for mass consumption as part of a stereoscopic view, catered to Victorian desires for exploration and knowledge through accessible images. The ‘street’ as subject connects to evolving notions of urban space shaped by capital and labor. Editor: So, it's not just a pretty picture; it's about how industry and consumerism influenced art-making. Curator: Exactly. And what do you think the labor division might look like, in the printing workshops, compared to say painting ateliers? Editor: Wow, thinking about the materials and the way the image was created adds a whole new layer. I see so much more now. Thanks for shedding light on that. Curator: My pleasure. Examining art through the lens of its making reveals how intertwined artistic creation is with the broader material and economic conditions of its time.