Gateway - Bury St. Edmond's 1858

Alfred Capel Cure made this photograph of the Gateway at Bury St. Edmunds in 1858. It’s an albumen silver print, a process that was state-of-the-art at the time, requiring great skill in coating paper with an emulsion made from egg whites and silver nitrate. What I find compelling about this image is that it makes a very old subject – a medieval gatehouse – seem utterly contemporary. Photography was then a relatively new medium, and the artist is clearly exploring its potential to capture fine detail and texture. Note how the rough surface of the stonework is so crisply rendered, as are the leaves on the trees in the background. Capel Cure would have needed patience and precision. The long exposure time required for this process contrasts with the instantaneity we expect from photography today. It’s a beautiful example of how a new technology can be used to reframe our perception of the past. By understanding the process involved, we can appreciate the image's historical significance and aesthetic qualities.