The Porthole / Sergeant and Private of the 42nd Gordon Highlanders, Edinburgh Castle 1843 - 1847

Curator: This albumen print, captured between 1843 and 1847 by Hill and Adamson, presents a fascinating glimpse into early photographic portraiture. The piece is called "The Porthole / Sergeant and Private of the 42nd Gordon Highlanders, Edinburgh Castle." Editor: My first thought is that the texture, achieved by the photographic process, creates this remarkable sense of immediacy; you feel as though you could reach out and touch the coarse wool of their uniforms. And the light is wonderful—a soft sepia wash. Curator: That immediate presence, I think, stems partly from how the soldiers’ uniforms situate them as archetypes. Their traditional Highland dress, each piece symbolic. Editor: Exactly, the labor of creation here is key to understanding this work. Think about the construction of those uniforms – each button, seam, and weave imbued with social and military history. It shows a whole economy in one frame! The iron of the cannon contrasts dramatically with the woolen fabrics. Curator: Absolutely. The cannon, standing in for the authority it projects. This type of weapon signifies British military power at that time and how a particular view of authority circulated within society through images of military occupation. It acts almost as an icon in and of itself, a visual reminder of their service. Editor: And think about the setting, Edinburgh Castle – it is more than backdrop, it's part of the whole composition and the statement of imperial power, constructed from materials hauled over generations to establish that power and authority. Curator: You've articulated how Hill and Adamson captured something far deeper than a mere physical likeness here. Editor: Indeed, by carefully examining the materials and means of production, from the iron ore in that cannon to the fabric on those soldiers, this image offers insights into the complex world it portrays. Curator: I find it intriguing to note how deeply layered meanings accrue in something seemingly simple like this—an early experiment with the photograph. Editor: Exactly; by examining material processes and social conditions, an apparently still image sparks dialogue about identity and authority.