Victorian Photography - adult education class

Course overview

Join Arthur Charlesworth to discover the fascinating story of Victorian photography, an invention that transformed how we see ourselves and the world.

This engaging eight-week evening course invites you to explore how photography emerged in the 19th century, reshaping art, literature, journalism, and even personal identity.

We will examine Victorian photography's complex relationship with painting, how it shaped journalism through stark portrayals of nineteenth-century life, and even how early image manipulation challenged the idea of photographic truth long before the arrival of Photoshop and AI.

We will also explore photography’s darker legacy as a tool of colonial control and classification in Victorian anthropology, and discover how it became an empowering medium for women and marginalised groups. Learn about Victorian mourning practices through photographs and understand how they shaped contemporary notions of memory. Finally, journey from early immersive experiences to the birth of film, tracing photography’s role in creating our image-saturated world.

Join us to unravel photography's enduring power in a course filled with rich visual materials, lively discussion, and intriguing historical connections to our digital present.

Term dates

•  Autumn Term: week beginning 20 October 2025 until week ending 12 December 2025

Any questions?

If you have any questions about the content of this course please contact the tutor, Arthur Charlesworth at arthur.charlesworth@citystgeorges.ac.uk 

If you have any questions about enrolment please contact the Imperial after:hours Administrator, Christian Jacobi at c.jacobi@imperial.ac.uk

Class recordings

These classes are not recorded.

Imperial certificates

There are no examinations or assessments for this course. However, attendance can lead to the award of an Imperial attendance certificate (T&Cs apply).