Whitby Abbey before 1866

Thomas Annan produced this photograph of Whitby Abbey sometime in the 19th century. The image depicts the gothic ruins of the Abbey, situated on a hillside. The photograph appears as part of an open book, across from a block of text. Annan was Scottish, and he’s best known for his photographs documenting the slums of Glasgow. Whitby Abbey is, of course, in England, and it had already been a popular tourist destination for a few decades when Annan made this image. The gothic ruin was a potent symbol in the Victorian era. So, it may not be surprising that Annan turned his lens on Whitby Abbey. The image gives us an insight into Victorian society and its relationship to the past. Photography was becoming increasingly popular in Britain. These photographs helped to shape a shared national identity. To understand this image better, we might look at guidebooks and travel writing of the period to explore its cultural significance. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.