Newhaven Fishwife 1843 - 1847

This photograph, "Newhaven Fishwife," was made between 1843 and 1848 by Hill and Adamson using the calotype process. The image, printed on paper, has a warm, sepia tone and a slightly soft focus, which results from the early photographic technique. The materiality of the calotype—its chemistry and its dependence on light—adds to the photo’s impact. It emphasizes the subject's humanity through the image's texture and tone. We see a working woman, possibly pausing from her labor to be photographed. This act acknowledges the labor involved in capturing the image itself. The choice of this process over more established art forms, such as painting, suggests an interest in capturing the real, unvarnished lives of working people. It also points to the social context of Victorian Britain, where new technologies were beginning to document all aspects of society.