Mr. McNab - Botanical Gardens 1843 - 1847

This portrait of Mr. McNab from the 1840s was made using a process called calotype, a very early form of photography. It involved coating paper with silver iodide, exposing it in a camera, and then developing the latent image. Notice the distinctive, slightly grainy quality of the print. This isn't a defect, but rather a direct result of the paper fibers and the chemical process itself. Unlike later photographic methods that aimed for smooth, sharp detail, the calotype embraced its material nature. It carries the texture of the paper. Hill and Adamson were pioneers of this technique. Their choice to use calotype wasn't just about capturing an image. It was about exploring the artistic potential inherent in a then-new technology. They were, in effect, crafting images, placing photography within a broader history of printmaking. It blurs the lines between scientific reproduction, and handmade craft. In doing so, they demonstrate that even the most modern of materials can have deep connections to tradition.