[View Through Rocks' Of Tower On Hill] 1870s

Curator: Here we have a gelatin silver print dating back to the 1870s by Francis Bedford, titled "[View Through Rocks' Of Tower On Hill]." Editor: What strikes me is this sense of peering, or perhaps being half-swallowed by the earth. It’s claustrophobic, yet oddly freeing, focusing your vision in a very directed way. Curator: The "tower on the hill," seen distantly through the natural archway, creates a unique point of interest, and, indeed, directs the eye in just the way you describe. The composition positions us in a fascinating conversation between confinement and expansive vista. Bedford, in many ways, capitalized on the Victorian interest in landscape and Romanticism. Editor: Absolutely, the framing pulls you in— those craggy rocks! They're not just background; they dominate, with a really strong, tactile presence. And there’s an element of almost dream-like imagery when viewing it: nature almost seems to pose for us, and in this sense, seems quite different than most landscape photography I’ve seen. Curator: Landscape photography, at this moment, plays a key role in both understanding the natural world and also colonizing it. Bedford made a fortune making popular images in the 1860s and 70s depicting India as an arm of the British empire, selling prints to families who would likely never see it, while reinforcing British rule in the subcontinent. This image presents an unyielding landscape in stark, Romantic terms. Editor: Hmm, I see the connection to that tradition. Yet, the picture still feels... off-kilter somehow. The balance between the overwhelming natural rock formations and this tiny tower... the tower almost looks insignificant in relation to the natural surroundings, as though humankind hasn’t managed to successfully dominate the land. I enjoy that quiet dissonance. Curator: I think that's wonderfully put. It offers a complexity that goes beyond simple topographical documentation or glorification of empire. Thank you for bringing that to the fore. Editor: Thanks! This one really has me thinking about how we shape, and are shaped by, what surrounds us.