Jordanhill before 1878

Editor: So this is "Jordanhill," a gelatin silver print by Thomas Annan, dating from before 1878. The book format and the faded text give it an antique feel, while the stark photograph suggests a somberness. How do you read this image, considering its historical context? Curator: It’s fascinating how Annan, through his lens, captures not just a building, but a fragment of Glasgow's evolving social landscape. Photography in this era was becoming a tool for documentation, and Annan’s work often intersected with the burgeoning debates around urbanization and its impact on marginalized communities. Look at how the building looms – does it evoke ideas of progress, or perhaps something more ambivalent, like the erasure of the past? Editor: That’s interesting. I was focused on the architecture, but now I’m wondering about what isn't shown. Curator: Exactly. Who lived there? Who was excluded? How does this image participate in constructing a narrative of Glasgow’s identity, and whose voices are prioritized? Annan's choice to present it within a book also speaks to its intended audience and purpose. Editor: So, it’s less about the building itself and more about what it represents within the power dynamics of the time. What kind of impact would images like this have had on a Victorian audience? Curator: These photographs contributed to shaping public perception. They could be used to reinforce existing social hierarchies or, potentially, to spark critical dialogues about inequality. Think about how similar images are used today – who controls the narrative, and what are they trying to say? Editor: I hadn't considered it in terms of power and social narrative. Thanks, I'll definitely look at photography differently now! Curator: Absolutely. Remember to look beyond the surface, always asking, “Who benefits? Who is marginalized?” Then art can become a catalyst for social change.