Harlech Castle, North Wales. c. 1865

Curator: This is Francis Bedford's photograph, "Harlech Castle, North Wales," currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The way the light catches those rough-hewn stones is striking. It speaks volumes about the labor involved in building such a structure. Curator: Indeed. Bedford was active during a period when photography served to document and disseminate images of British heritage. Editor: I wonder about the quarrying. What was the cost of extracting and moving such massive amounts of stone, both environmentally and in human toil? Curator: These images were crucial for shaping public perception of national identity and the romantic ideal of the medieval past. Editor: Romantic, perhaps, but at what cost? The photograph itself becomes a commodity, obscuring the real costs of the castle’s construction and its place in society. Curator: It's a compelling image nonetheless, isn't it? A testament to Bedford's artistry and the power of visual narratives. Editor: Absolutely. It reminds us to keep questioning the narratives we see, and to think about the physical and social forces that built these places.