Elizabeth Keown, Kate Keown, and Freddy Gould c. 1866 - 1868

Julia Margaret Cameron created this albumen print of Elizabeth Keown, Kate Keown, and Freddy Gould, capturing the Victorian era's romantic vision of childhood. Note the motif of the basket, filled with freshly picked blackberries. The basket, a humble vessel, appears throughout art history—from harvest scenes in medieval tapestries to classical depictions of Bacchus, god of wine, with his woven container. Yet, here, it is a symbol of innocence and nature’s bounty. Consider how the act of gathering fruit connects these children to ancient agricultural rituals. This same act appears on Greek amphorae, where figures collect olives, and in Renaissance paintings, where putti harvest grapes. Over time, the meaning of the basket has shifted, but its fundamental connection to nature and sustenance endures. Observe the children’s pensive expressions, which evoke a deep, subconscious longing for simpler times. Like a dream, this photograph captures the fleeting, ethereal beauty of youth.