Twee gezichten op de binnenplaats van het oude universiteitsgebouw van de universiteit van Glasgow before 1891

Here is a photographic print of two views of the inner court of the old Glasgow University building by an anonymous maker. This image likely involved a multi-step process of production, from the mastery of the camera equipment to the chemical processing needed to produce it. Photography’s cultural significance lies in its purported objectivity, even if this photograph is presented in a book, which is itself a constructed context. Photography allowed for the democratic dissemination of images, influencing what and how people saw the world. This print also allows us to reflect on the relationship between documentation and artistry: Is the act of capturing a scene a form of creative production? In this image, the architectural details of the Glasgow University buildings are permanently captured, but also reshaped by the photographer's aesthetic decisions. By paying close attention to the materials, processes, and contexts surrounding artistic creation, we can deepen our understanding of the photograph and its cultural impact.