[Paul Falconer Poole] 1860s

This photograph of Paul Falconer Poole was made by John and Charles Watkins around the middle of the 19th century, using the albumen print process. In this technique, a paper base is coated with a layer of egg white and then sensitized with silver nitrate, creating a surface that light can act upon. It's a process that demands precision, from the raising of the chickens to the mixing of chemicals. The resulting print has a distinctive sepia tone, with a smooth surface that almost feels like skin. Photography in this period was still a relatively new medium, and a carefully crafted object. Each print was a unique artifact, involving considerable handwork. Think of the labour involved, not only in posing the sitter and operating the camera, but in preparing the materials. The Watkins studio was one of many that helped to popularize photography as both an art and a commodity. By understanding the making of this image, we gain insight into the cultural and economic forces at play in Victorian society.