Porseleinen vazen en kruiken van Manufacture nationale de Sèvres tentoongesteld op de Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations van 1851 in Londen 1851

Hugh Owen made this photograph of porcelain vases and jugs in 1851 to commemorate their display at the Great Exhibition in London. The Great Exhibition was a celebration of industry and culture from across the globe. This image is interesting, because the objects in it are meant to symbolize an age of industrial progress. The photograph itself is a brand-new technology, which is appropriate for the subject. But note the irony that the objects in the photograph are handcrafted porcelain. These objects also signify both class and taste. By implication, those who can afford to own them are somehow more refined and elegant. The historical record gives us insight into what the photograph shows, and what it leaves out. It also raises a question about the role of photographs and museums in shaping our understanding of Victorian culture.