Mijnwerkers in de Dolcoath Mine te Cornwall c. 1893

John Charles Burrow captured these photographs of the Dolcoath mine in Cornwall. Without a specific date, we can still consider them within the context of late 19th-century industrial photography, when documenting labor conditions became increasingly prevalent. Here, we see miners at work in an environment that looks incredibly unsafe. The image presents the physical demands and risks associated with mining, as men descend into the earth. The mine's tight space, with its rough-hewn wooden supports, emphasizes the vulnerability of the miners. Such images bring up questions around class, labor and identity. What did it mean to be a miner, and how did this occupation shape one's sense of self? It's a poignant reminder of the human cost of industrial progress. The image leaves us to contemplate the relationship between progress, labor, and the often-unseen individuals whose efforts fuel societal advancement.