Gezicht op het interieur van de Commons Chamber before 1869

This is an early photograph by John Harrington, capturing the interior of the Commons Chamber. It's a fascinating glimpse into the nineteenth century, made possible by the then-relatively new technology of photography. But consider the context: the Houses of Parliament, rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1834, were a showcase of Victorian industrial prowess. Stone, glass, metal - all produced on a massive scale, employing countless laborers. This photograph, taken within that context, shows not just the architecture, but also a society grappling with the implications of mass production. Photography itself was rapidly changing how people perceived the world. The amount of work involved in the architecture versus the making of this image are so different, and this challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.