At Pont y pair, Bettws-y-Coed, North Wales 1856

Francis Bedford made this photograph of Pont y pair, in Bettws-y-Coed, North Wales, sometime in the mid-19th century. Bedford was part of a generation of photographers who turned their lenses towards the landscape, producing images that spoke to the Romantic sensibilities of the Victorian era. Consider how photography, as a relatively new medium, was quickly embraced both as a tool for documentation and a medium for artistic expression. Here, Bedford captures the picturesque Welsh landscape, catering to the growing interest in travel and the appreciation of natural beauty. This interest was, of course, facilitated by a rapidly expanding railway network and a growing middle class. The image also presents a particular view of Wales, one that emphasizes its natural beauty, perhaps inadvertently reinforcing certain stereotypes. Understanding Bedford's work requires us to consider the social and economic forces that shaped its production and reception. Examining travel guides, railway advertisements, and other printed materials from the period can reveal a great deal about the cultural context in which this photograph was made and viewed.