Shawfield before 1878

Thomas Annan made this photograph, "Shawfield", sometime in the 19th century, using the wet collodion process, a technique that was dominant at the time. The wet collodion process required coating a glass plate with chemicals, exposing it in the camera while still wet, and then immediately developing it. This laborious process, while cumbersome, allowed for incredible detail and tonal range, evident in the crisp depiction of the Shawfield building and its surroundings. The photograph's monochromatic palette accentuates the textures of the brickwork, the foliage, and the sky. Annan’s choice of this relatively new technology speaks to his interest in documenting the urban environment, capturing its essence at a time of great social and industrial change. By focusing on the built environment, Annan indirectly comments on labor, class, and the rapid transformation of the urban landscape. Photography, in his hands, becomes a tool for social observation, blurring the lines between art, craft, and documentary practice.