Princes Street in Edinburgh, gezien vanaf Waterloo Place c. 1870 - 1886

Editor: So, this is James Valentine's "Princes Street in Edinburgh, gezien vanaf Waterloo Place," a photograph from around 1870-1886. It feels very much of its time, doesn't it? Busy, formal...a world in transition perhaps? What draws your eye when you look at it? Curator: The first thing that strikes me is the depiction of urban space and the flow of people. How does the image capture and potentially reinforce social hierarchies present in Edinburgh at that time? Consider the composition - the monument in the foreground, the architecture... Where are the different classes situated within the frame? Editor: Hmm, I hadn't thought of it that way. I was focused on the sheer volume of people, but you're right. The statue of the mounted figure elevates him –literally and figuratively– above the pedestrians. Curator: Precisely. Think about who this monument likely represents – likely someone powerful – and how its presence shapes the public space. Whose stories are being told, and whose are being marginalized? Also, look at the modes of transport visible. Horse-drawn carriages versus pedestrians. Can we infer social status from that? Editor: Yes, definitely. And the fact that it's a photograph…photography democratizing representation perhaps, yet still within certain constraints. Was Valentine intentionally commenting on this, or simply documenting what he saw? Curator: That's the fascinating ambiguity, isn't it? Even seemingly objective documentation is imbued with the photographer’s perspective and the conventions of the time. By exploring the nuances, we gain insight not only into the image but also into the socio-political landscape of 19th-century Edinburgh. What have you learned by thinking through those considerations? Editor: I see the image as more than just a historical snapshot. I now view it as an active participant in shaping the narrative of its time.