Historic Photograph Captures Legacy of Maryland's Industrial Past and Artistic Vision

The Old Iron Furnace near Avondale, Carroll County, photographed by A. Aubrey Bodine in 1937, represents a significant intersection of Maryland's industrial history and photographic artistry. This image captures what was once part of Legh Furnace, an iron business established by Legh Master who moved from London to Frederick County (now Carroll County) in 1770, purchasing thousands of acres to create his industrial enterprise. The furnace site, now transformed into the Furnace Hills golf course community, stands as a testament to the region's economic evolution from industrial production to modern residential development.

A. Aubrey Bodine, regarded as one of the finest pictorialists of the twentieth century, created this photograph during his 47-year career that began in 1923 covering stories for the Baltimore Sunday Sun. Bodine's approach to photography was revolutionary for newspaper work—he believed photography could be a creative discipline and studied art principles at the Maryland Institute College of Art. His technical mastery involved elaborate manipulations including adding clouds photographically, working on negatives with dyes and intensifiers, and using pencil marking and scraping to achieve his artistic vision. Bodine consistently won top honors in national and international salon competitions, exhibiting his work in hundreds of prestigious shows and museums.

The importance of Bodine's photograph extends beyond documentary value to artistic significance. His craftsmanship and experimental techniques elevated newspaper photography to an art form, demonstrating that photographic tools could be used like a painter's brush or sculptor's chisel. The image preserves not only the physical structure of the Old Iron Furnace but also embodies Bodine's philosophy that "he did not take a picture, he made a picture." This approach influenced generations of photographers and changed perceptions of what newspaper photography could achieve artistically.

More than 6,000 photographs spanning Bodine's career are available for viewing on the website https://www.aaubreybodine.com, where this image can be ordered using ID# 48-443. The full text of the biography "A Legend In His Time," written by Harold A. Williams, Bodine's editor and closest friend, can also be found at https://www.aaubreybodine.com, providing comprehensive insight into this remarkable photographer's life and work.