Gezicht op de City Churches in Dundee met links de Old Steeple before 1890

Valentine & Sons produced this platinotype print titled 'Gezicht op de City Churches in Dundee met links de Old Steeple' as an illustration for an 1896 book on local government in Scotland. The image performs a double function. First, it is a seemingly objective record of a specific place: the city churches and steeple of Dundee. Second, it operates as a symbol of civic pride. Note how the scene is framed and composed in order to project an image of established order and institutional continuity. When we consider the time and place of its making, this image resonates in interesting ways with the social history of Scotland. The late 19th century saw the growth of local government, but also increasing social stratification and anxieties about urban poverty. Images like this one can be seen as part of a larger project of constructing a cohesive civic identity. To further understand the photograph, we might consult city archives, local histories, or studies of Scottish photography. Each of these sources offers a perspective on the photograph’s historical context.