JULIA MARGARET CAMERON - The Echo

THE ARTWORK

"The Echo" by Julia Margaret Cameron was created in 1868. This piece reflects Cameron's fascination with literature and mythology, as well as her desire to capture inner emotion and spiritual depth. "The Echo" is celebrated for its intimate portrayal of femininity and its contribution to the evolution of photography as an art form. The model is Hatty Campbell (born about 1852, death date unknown) about whom very little is known. Her beauty inspired several portraits by Cameron, all apparently made during 1868. This evocative portrait exemplifies Cameron’s signature soft-focus technique, which lends the image a painterly, dreamlike quality. 

In Greek mythology, Echo was a mountain nymph (an Oread) with a tragic story. She is best known for her association with the tale of Narcissus, but her myth begins with her relationship to the gods.

Echo was a talkative nymph who loved to chat, and she often distracted the goddess Hera by engaging her in conversation. This allowed Zeus, Hera's husband, to carry on his numerous affairs with other nymphs. When Hera discovered Echo’s role in these deceptions, she cursed her to lose her voice—except for the ability to repeat the last words spoken by others.

After this curse, Echo encountered Narcissus, a beautiful but vain young man. She fell in love with him, but because she could only repeat his words, she could not communicate her feelings. Narcissus rejected her and, heartbroken, Echo wasted away until only her voice remained, haunting the mountains and valleys.

THE ARTIST

Julia Margaret Cameron (1815–1879) was a pioneering British photographer known for her soft-focus portraits and dramatic compositions, which were groundbreaking in the mid-19th century. Born in Calcutta, India, Cameron moved to England in 1848, where she became part of an intellectual and artistic circle that included figures like Alfred Lord Tennyson and Charles Darwin. She only took up photography in her late 40s, after receiving a camera as a gift from her daughter in 1863.

Cameron's work is noted for its innovative approach, often using soft focus, close cropping, and long exposure times to create dreamlike, expressive portraits. She rejected the sharp precision that was typical of early photography, instead aiming to capture the inner character and emotional depth of her subjects. Her portraits of prominent figures like Tennyson, Darwin, and her series of allegorical and biblical scenes were highly influential.

Although some of her contemporaries criticized her work for its technical imperfections, Cameron is now recognized as one of the most important figures in the history of photography. Her work blurred the lines between photography and fine art, and her distinctive style paved the way for future developments in portrait photography and visual storytelling.

THE PRINT

• A4 Size = 29.7cm x 21cm = 11.7" x 8.25"
• A3 Size = 42cm x 29.7cm = 16.5" x 11.7"
• High resolution giclée print - 600dpi
• Printed to order
• Unframed & unmounted
• Professionally printed using Canon imagePROGRAF printers
• Digitally restored by OharaPrints from high resolution scans of the original artwork
• Made in and shipped from Casterton, Victoria, Australia

PAPER

• Canson Infinity - Arches BFK Rives White
• Paper weight = 310gsm
• 100% cotton
• Archival, museum grade
• Acid free
• No OBAs (optical brightening agents)

Arches BFK Rives is a high-quality, archival-grade paper manufactured at the Arches paper mill in France - one of the oldest papermakers in Europe. It is made from 100% cotton rag using a time-honoured manufacturing process, giving the paper exceptional durability, longevity, and resistance to yellowing or deterioration over time. Despite its substantial weight and thickness it maintains a very soft and supple feel. The paper has a natural white tone and is completely free of any optical brighteners (OBAs), allowing for superb colour rendition and deep blacks.

INK

• Canon Lucia Pro Inks
• Pigment based
• Archival, museum-grade
• Brilliant colours, even gradient and razor-sharp lines
• Highly stable and fade resistant, excellent humidity-fastness

SHIPPING & HANDLING

• All orders are dispatched on the NEXT BUSINESS DAY after receiving the order
• All prints are shipped via AUSTRALIA POST with TRACKING
• For postage rates and estimated delivery times please see our SHIPPING page
• All prints are shipped flat, not rolled
• Each print is individually placed into a resealable, archival grade plastic protective sleeve
• Prints are carefully packaged in very sturdy 700gsm cardboard envelopes, along with 1050gsm boxboard sheets which provide extra strength & rigidity to prevent bending or folding during transit