British Library Photographic Exhibition

Points of View: Capturing the 19th Century in Photographs

Nov 7, 2009

A free show explores the history of photography. The display features calotypes, daguerreotypes, x-rays, spirit images, 20th century images and early photo equipment.

The British Library has one of the world’s most comprehensive photographic collections comprising more than 350,000 items including fine examples of calotypes and daguerreotypes, x-ray images, prints and negatives.

In the British Library’s first ever exhibition devoted to photography more than 250 rarely-seen images are on display. The show explores the early history of photography from its invention in 1839. It looks at the development of this art form as a gentleman’s hobby, and the growth of the popular amateur market in the 20th century. The display also examines the somewhat controversial spirit photography that was all the rage in the 19th century.

The exhibition features equipment used by William Henry Fox Talbot who patented his calotype process in 1840. Unlimited prints could be produced from a paper negative and an example of an image produced by this method is An Oak Tree in Winter (calotype negative and salted paper print).

Thomas Ottewill’s Double Folding Camera

Another important piece of equipment on view is Thomas Ottewill’s Double Folding Camera, dating from the 1850s. Sliding box cameras of the 1940s/50s were very large and cumbersome to transport. Ottewill’s camera resolved many of these problems. After the removal of the lens and focusing screen, hinges inset into the sides of the camera body allowed it to be collapsed into a compact package for transport.

Among the many images on display is Dictyola dichotoma (1843-53) by Anna Atkins. This is one of over 450 images that comprise Atkin’s publication entitled British Algae. She used Sir John Herschel’s camera-less cyanotype method to create the images.

Eadweard Muybridge’s Locomotion Experiments

During the 19th century one of the big debates was whether or not all four legs of an animal left the ground simultaneously when the creature was galloping. Eadweard Muybridge carried out thousands of tests to try and prove this. Baboon Walking on All Fours (1870s-80s), was one of the many hundreds of photos from his experiments.

The Victorians and Spirit Photography

In the 19th century experiments in spiritualism were fashionable. The Victorians were desperate to contact and capture the spirit world, and spirit photography became extremely popular. Practising mediums, such as Richard Boursnell, were producing curious images where exotic figures – so-called spirits – mysteriously appeared in their photographs, as shown in John Dewar of Glasgow, with Indian Spirit (1896).

To accompany Points of View the British Library is hosting a broad programme of exciting events including live performances, a photographic treasure hunt, Magic Lantern Shows as well as talks and discussions for children and adults.

To coincide with the exhibition the British Library has published a fully illustrated 176-page catalogue featuring more than 150 colour images. The book includes photographs by many of the 19th century’s most renowned photographers including Francis Frith, Felix Teynard, Samuel Bourne, Peter Henry Emerson, William Henry Fox Talbot and many others. The publication is available in hardback at £29.95 ((ISBN 978 0 7123 5081 5) and paperback at £15.95 (ISBN 978 0 7123 5082 2).

Points of View – Capturing the 19th Century in Photographs will be on view until 7th March 2010. Further details can be obtained from the British Library.

The copyright of the article British Library Photographic Exhibition in Special Art Gallery Exhibits is owned by Frances Spiegel. Permission to republish British Library Photographic Exhibition in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.