Faldoni, parts 2804 - 2807

 

2804. The first photographs, produced at the beginning did not look like much, they look rather like the shadows cast on a wall which sometimes remind one of landscape and city scenes. But by mid-century the process had advanced to such an extent that reproducible images could be created and those images displayed the physical world if a sharp focus. 

 2805. As soon as the photographic process was formalized and made predictable and repeatable small shops and business began to appear in places like Paris and London, the purposes of these small businesses was to invite the public in, and for a small sum, produce a photographic portrait of the individual or of his family.

 2806. Now we have to imagine Mr. Holman Hunt leaving his studio in London on a Saturday afternoon, and going for a walk in the public gardens, and after that a promenade down Oxford Street. For the first time in his life he comes across a photography shop in which daguerrotypes are being made. In the past he has read some articles in art journals about the process, but this is the first time he has seen any examples displayed in a shop window.

2807. Mr. Hunt imagines that he is looking at a drawing in pencil on a very dark piece of paper. He is struck with admiration for such a drawing. He thinks to himself, “Sometimes when I am concentrating to the best of my ability I am able to do a drawing of this great accuracy.” He remembers a drawing he did years ago, his favorite drawing that he has at home in a gilded frame.