Photography, Natural History and the Nineteenth-Century Museum: Exchanging Views of Empire

Kathleen Davidson explores the profound relationship between photography and natural history during the transformative years of the nineteenth century. This period marked a significant evolution in museums, as they began to embrace emerging technologies and aesthetic sensibilities, integrating photography as a means to exhibit and celebrate the natural world. Davidson delves into how these advancements influenced public perception and scientific understanding, reshaping the narrative of empire and colonization through visual representation.

With a keen eye for the interplay between art and science, Davidson provides a nuanced examination of the museum's role as a space for knowledge and discovery. She uncovers the ways in which photography not only documented but also participated in the imperial project, exchanging views that both enriched and complicated the understanding of nature and culture. Through her insightful analysis, readers are invited to re-evaluate the ideological implications of this visual medium in framing the stories of nature and empire.