Nelson Street, City 1899

Curator: This photogravure, “Nelson Street, City,” was created around 1899 by James Craig Annan. Editor: It has a dreamlike, almost wistful quality, doesn’t it? The monochrome palette really enhances that sense of gentle melancholy. Curator: Indeed. Annan was a key figure in the Pictorialist movement, which sought to elevate photography to the level of art, often by mimicking the effects of painting and etching. Look at the soft focus, for instance. Editor: And the way the light falls, creating almost symbolic pockets of brightness. Note the signs – "Confectionery," "Chocolate." In a way, the photographer seems to present commodities as modern, secular icons of their time. Curator: That’s a fascinating point. In focusing on Nelson Street, we're encountering more than just a streetscape. It’s a portrayal of the rise of consumer culture at the turn of the century and an artistic assertion during the rapid social transformations in cities. The photograph reflects the lived realities of individuals navigating industrialized urban centers and captures the collective human experience during periods of significant transformation. Editor: I'm drawn to the figures in the frame, these shadows amidst this changing cultural landscape. Their gestures, even in stillness, feel incredibly weighted. Their attire and demeanour is symbolic of this shift as they adapt and are adapted into their surroundings. Curator: Annan uses his lens to not only document but also comment on social dynamics and the ever-evolving role of cities in our lives. This echoes critical perspectives on labor and social class in the city—discussions relevant even today. Editor: It's as if he captured not just the appearance of the city but the very atmosphere. A symbolic rendering of a moment in urban time. The photograph itself has become a time capsule with a somber and wistful aura, a fragment of a bygone urban tableau. Curator: This image presents a remarkable dialogue between technological progress and human vulnerability. Editor: Exactly, leaving us with more to consider regarding both.