Saltmarket in Glasgow 1868 - 1877

Thomas Annan made this photograph, Saltmarket in Glasgow, using the wet collodion process, a popular method in the 19th century. It's more than just a street scene; it's a glimpse into Glasgow's social fabric. Annan was commissioned to document areas of the city slated for demolition and redevelopment, capturing the living conditions of the working class in the 1860s and 70s. The image uses a narrow, shadowed alleyway, and a lone figure to suggest themes of urban poverty and marginalization. This photograph and others are key to understanding the Victorian era's attitudes towards urban planning, public health, and social reform. Scholars consult urban archives, census records, and public health reports to contextualize Annan’s photographs. By understanding the social and institutional context, we can appreciate how art serves as a historical document, open to interpretation and debate.