Binnenplaats van de oostvleugel van de universiteit van Glasgow before 1891

This photograph of the Binnenplaats van de oostvleugel of Glasgow University is a window into the past, printed on paper, a material born of the industrial age. The anonymous photographer skillfully manipulated light and chemistry. They embraced this new technology to capture not just an image, but also a sense of the institution’s imposing architecture and its place in the landscape. The very act of photography was becoming a tool of documentation and a means of shaping perceptions. Consider the labor involved, from the production of photographic materials to the skilled work in taking and developing the image. As photography became more accessible, it blurred the lines between artistic expression, commercial enterprise and personal documentation. By understanding the materials, the processes, and the social context of this photograph, we gain insight into the broader cultural forces at play during its creation.