Loch Katrine, from the hill side above the Royal Cottage, looking up Glen Gyle before 1889

T. & R. Annan & Sons created this albumen print of Loch Katrine sometime in the late 19th century. The image depicts a placid lake surrounded by verdant hills, viewed from an elevated vantage point near the Royal Cottage. The Annan firm was known for its landscapes of Scotland, often commissioned by wealthy tourists eager to take home picturesque views. This image taps into the romantic ideal of the Scottish Highlands, popularized by figures like Sir Walter Scott and later, Queen Victoria. Yet, it also reveals a changing Scotland, one increasingly shaped by tourism and royal patronage. The presence of the "Royal Cottage" in the title suggests the area's growing appeal to the British elite, subtly highlighting the social and economic forces transforming the region. Understanding this photograph requires attention to its historical context, the economic and social conditions that shaped its production and reception. By exploring these factors, we gain a richer understanding of the photograph's meaning and its place in Scotland's cultural history.