Newhaven Children 1843 - 1847

This is "Newhaven Children", a photograph made between 1843 and 1848 by the Scottish photographers David Hill and Robert Adamson. The image captures a group of children in the fishing village of Newhaven, near Edinburgh. In this early photograph, Hill and Adamson offer us a glimpse into the lives of working-class children. During this period, photography was largely used for portraiture of the middle and upper classes, so this is a departure from the norm. The children are posed in relation to a boat and fishing equipment, telling us about their lived environment, and their families' dependence on the sea. The children in the foreground are barefoot and their clothes are worn; they are presented without romanticism. Hill and Adamson's photographs can be appreciated for their historical and social insight. The image invites a conversation about childhood, labor, and representation. Their work provides a valuable, rare view into a specific time, place, and community.