Kelmscott Manor: In the Attics (No.2) 1896

Frederick H. Evans captured this photograph, "Kelmscott Manor: In the Attics (No.2)," offering us a glimpse into the intimate corners of a historic home. Evans, working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, positioned himself amidst the cultural shifts of the Aesthetic and Arts and Crafts movements, both of which valued beauty and craftsmanship. Here, the attic steps aren't merely architectural details; they evoke a sense of history, labor, and domesticity. Who traversed these stairs? What was the experience of the women who likely maintained these spaces, their stories often relegated to the shadows? Evans eschews grand narratives, instead focusing on the quiet, often unseen aspects of life within Kelmscott Manor. In its own way, this photograph disrupts the traditional, masculine narratives of architectural photography by inviting us to consider the lives and labor interwoven within these domestic spaces. It serves as a poignant reminder of the countless untold stories that reside within the walls of historic buildings.