Oscar Gustave Rejlander (1813–1875) was a pioneer of English photography in the 19th century. His work is both groundbreaking and wide-ranging, encompassing early experiments in photomontage and artistic photography as well as contributions to scientific illustration—most notably in Charles Darwin’s final book, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals . The publication Making Thought Visible uses Rejlander’s richly varied oeuvre to sketch a cultural history of Victorian photography in the mid-19th century. It explores his connections to the British royal family, his art and portrait photography, his images of street children, and his self-portraits in a variety of roles. Rejlander is considered one of the most innovative photographers of the 19th century. Alongside Julia Margaret Cameron, Lady Hawarden, and Lewis Carroll, he ranks among the most important figures in Victorian photography.

Bernd Stiegler is Professor of Modern German Literature in a Media Context at the University of Konstanz.