Rumbling bridge, Dunkeld before 1868

This is Peter Ewing's photograph, "Rumbling bridge, Dunkeld." It is one of many book illustrations. In the 19th century, Scottish identity was often romanticized by outsiders, yet fiercely protected by Scots at home and abroad. Here, Ewing’s use of photography to capture a natural landscape complicates notions of identity and representation. How can an image of a landscape be politically charged? Well, consider the cultural weight of the Scottish Highlands, often associated with the Jacobite risings, clan system, and a distinct Gaelic culture. Ewing's photograph exists in a world that is both celebrating and exploiting its vision of Scottishness. It asks us to consider how the gaze of the photographer and the viewer intertwine with the historical and cultural narratives of the land. Think about who gets to define a culture, and what aspects are amplified or erased in that process. The quiet beauty of this scene belies its complex relationship to power, history, and identity.