Scrapbook 1864 - 1871

Editor: Here we have Iorwerth Grey Lloyd’s "Scrapbook" from the Harvard Art Museums collection. It’s a book, about 30 by 23 centimeters, with what looks like a dark green and red cover. It looks unassuming, but what do you see in this object? Curator: I see the implications of mass production and consumption. This isn't just a personal collection; it's evidence of photographic processes becoming increasingly accessible. Consider the labor involved in creating such a book, from the binding to the paper. Editor: So, the value isn't necessarily in what's inside, but in the context of its creation? Curator: Precisely. The materials themselves and how they were brought together reflect broader economic and social forces at play. Think about the societal changes that enabled such widespread image collection and display. Editor: That’s an interesting perspective, thinking about it as a product of its time rather than just a container. Curator: Exactly. It prompts questions about how we value and interact with material objects, even seemingly simple ones like this scrapbook.