Portaal van de kathedraal van Lichfield before 1870

Curator: This captivating photograph, "Portaal van de kathedraal van Lichfield" or "Portal of Lichfield Cathedral," captured by John Benjamin Stone before 1870, gives us a glimpse into the architectural grandeur of the period. Editor: The print immediately evokes a sense of profound age and stillness. The intricate details almost seem to whisper secrets from centuries past. It also feels meticulously studied as if the photographer intended a careful archival record of the portal. Curator: Stone’s photograph provides invaluable insight into the labour involved in constructing the cathedral and its intricate sculptures. Note the meticulous carving; think of the stonemasons and artisans, and the social framework that made it possible. Editor: And look at the figures. Do you notice that each is set slightly differently in the recess, angled inward? Their posture and attire – there's a consistent story of solemnity. Medieval cathedrals employed images as didactic tools, instructing and inspiring. The sculptor was likely drawing on pre-existing patterns. Curator: I would argue that Stone’s photograph provides access to understand the cathedral, not only as an artistic object or place of worship but as a monument to a certain means of production that underpinned its very existence. Editor: It really comes across as an exploration of symbolic forms and their relation to spirituality; for example, the upward reaching arch of the doorway itself and the repetition of smaller arch forms across the doorway remind me of the hope of redemption, framing the sacredness within. Curator: So, what can we learn about labor and the history of craftsmanship by considering such iconography? After all, everything here stems from manual labor and that labour is never neutral. It conveys and embeds value and purpose to the work. Editor: Seeing the cathedral's doorway frozen in this moment helps us feel connected to its ongoing symbolic impact through our experience today. Curator: This photograph compels us to contemplate not just what we see but the complex interactions of labor, materials, and social forces that are the fabric of art and human ambition.