Crape 1839 - 1840

"Crape" is a calotype photograph from 1839-1840 by William Henry Fox Talbot, a pioneer of photography. The small-scale image is a delicate study of a piece of fabric, showcasing Talbot's early experimentation with the calotype process, which produced negative images on paper. This work exemplifies the nascent stage of photography, demonstrating its ability to capture detail and texture in a way that was previously impossible. The image is currently part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York City.