In the Barley Harvest
Photograph
1888 (made), 1890 (published)
1888 (made), 1890 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In 1889 Emerson published his controversial book Naturalistic Photography for Students of the Art without images. Naturalistic Photography examined his purist approach to photography, derived from his fascination with Naturalism in art, and attacked the prevailing artificial aesthetic in art photography. After its publication Emerson felt that his opponents had misunderstood his ideas. So, in 1890 he selected 10 plates from his book Pictures of East Anglian Life (1888) that best illustrated his theories, and presented them loose in a portfolio dedicated to the ‘photographic student’, with the same title and cover of the book. He then donated copies of this portfolio to every photographic society in the country.
Writing about this image, Emerson explains, ‘Here one man is honing his scythe while another, his face streaming with perspiration, has taken off his hat with which to fan himself, and now stretches forth his hand to his mate, who … has brought the bottle of ‘home-brewed’ from which they will all quench their thirst. Through the hot day they will work under the boiling summer sun until 4.30’.
Writing about this image, Emerson explains, ‘Here one man is honing his scythe while another, his face streaming with perspiration, has taken off his hat with which to fan himself, and now stretches forth his hand to his mate, who … has brought the bottle of ‘home-brewed’ from which they will all quench their thirst. Through the hot day they will work under the boiling summer sun until 4.30’.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | photogravure |
| Brief description | Photograph, 'In the Barley Harvest', by Peter Henry Emerson, photogravure, Plate 8, from the 'Pictures of East Anglian Life' portfolio, 1890 |
| Physical description | A mounted black and white photograph showing three agricultural workers, one holding scythe |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Plate VII |
| Credit line | Found In Department |
| Object history | A portfolio containing 10 India proofs taken from the eponymous book (1888, 32 photogravures), published as a companion to his other book 'Naturalistic Photography for Students of the Art' (1889). With preface and Notes to the Student in the inside cover of the portfolio folder. Gift of the photographer 1890, transferred from the Print Collection, 1896 |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | In 1889 Emerson published his controversial book Naturalistic Photography for Students of the Art without images. Naturalistic Photography examined his purist approach to photography, derived from his fascination with Naturalism in art, and attacked the prevailing artificial aesthetic in art photography. After its publication Emerson felt that his opponents had misunderstood his ideas. So, in 1890 he selected 10 plates from his book Pictures of East Anglian Life (1888) that best illustrated his theories, and presented them loose in a portfolio dedicated to the ‘photographic student’, with the same title and cover of the book. He then donated copies of this portfolio to every photographic society in the country. Writing about this image, Emerson explains, ‘Here one man is honing his scythe while another, his face streaming with perspiration, has taken off his hat with which to fan himself, and now stretches forth his hand to his mate, who … has brought the bottle of ‘home-brewed’ from which they will all quench their thirst. Through the hot day they will work under the boiling summer sun until 4.30’. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic reference | John Taylor The old order and the new: P H Emerson and photography, 1885-1895 Munich; New York; London: Prestel, 2006. 160p.: ill (some col). ISBN: 3791336991 / 9783791336992. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1957-1990 |
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| Record created | January 31, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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