Gezicht op Holyrood Palace en Arthur's Seat c. 1862 - 1867

Editor: Here we have Archibald Burns' "View of Holyrood Palace and Arthur's Seat", an albumen print dating from around 1862 to 1867. It has an incredible atmospheric quality, almost like a dream. How do you see this photograph functioning within the historical context of image making? Curator: Well, we must consider the role photography played in shaping perceptions of place. By the mid-19th century, photography was booming and places like Holyrood Palace became subject to the tourist gaze. Think about who consumed these images. Editor: Tourists? And I guess those who couldn't travel? Curator: Exactly. And what social role did images of national monuments and picturesque scenery fulfill at the time? This image offers both: Holyrood Palace and Arthur’s Seat, both iconic landmarks of Scottish heritage and beauty. It also looks like it's affixed into some sort of bound portfolio? Editor: Yes, it appears that way. It seems odd now. Was the point of an image so radically different back then that images could be consumed only in special books? Curator: Partly that is the novelty, still fresh at this time, of photography. But this object, in album form, shows a transition: it’s becoming more reproducible, but also more controlled. It creates a narrative through image selection and placement, not unlike museums. This isn’t just about documenting reality, but constructing a story for the viewer. Are there more pictures in the volume that might give context? Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way, as actively shaping public understanding of a place! I see that in this context the way that photographs, especially of this iconic location, functioned culturally to reinforce shared national identity and historical memory. Thank you. Curator: Exactly, now consider how that role shifted in the coming decades with the rise of mass media. Always ask: who made it, who is the intended viewer and how did social forces affect the artistic choices?