Conventual Buildings, Bury 1858

Curator: Alfred Capel Cure captured this gelatin silver print, "Conventual Buildings, Bury," in 1858. It's a somber cityscape anchored by crumbling stone structures. Editor: The initial impression is undeniably gothic. The monochromatic tones, the aged stone, and the prevalence of gravestones create a sense of melancholy and reflection on mortality. Curator: Indeed. Looking at the image, I'm struck by the materiality. The rough, weathered texture of the stone is juxtaposed with the smooth surfaces of the gravestones, which suggest a sort of assembly line in their creation. Think of the labor required to quarry, transport, and carve each one. Editor: And notice how those stones repeat formal elements that speak to cultural continuity, for example the arch form reappearing from the architecture through the gates on many of the graves—this resonates on so many levels: psychological, cultural and spiritual. This symbolizes a gateway, both earthly and eternal. Curator: Precisely! It speaks volumes about how Victorian society processed death. Plus, consider the chemical process involved in creating a gelatin silver print, transforming the architecture into a consumer product. This new medium made seeing the vestiges of spiritual spaces commonplace and reproducible. Editor: While those reproductive possibilities point forward, those vestigial arches point directly back. We also should keep in mind the ivy growing upon these ruined structures, blurring the line between nature and human creation. It is interesting how this creates a link to ancient symbols of resilience and rebirth. Curator: Yes, the constant return of nature does point toward rebirth. These layered surfaces tell stories about architectural and photographic techniques, highlighting how production and image technologies developed at a rapid pace and altered the consumption and production of devotional buildings as photographic souvenirs and teaching tools. Editor: Seeing it from this viewpoint offers an engaging look into humanity’s attempts to give structure to themes of mortality, faith and hope over time, reflected even through a mechanical medium such as this photographic print. Curator: I concur; the layers of time are almost palpable within the photograph. The print certainly provokes deeper reflections on the intricate interactions between society, nature, and the photographic reproduction of our memories.