Gezicht op het stadhuis van Manchester before 1878

This is Plate II, a photomechanical print titled "Back of Hand & Shrivelled Apple," made in an unknown location by J. Nasmyth. The image juxtaposes a photograph of the back of a wrinkled hand next to a shriveled apple. The inscription tells us that it is meant "to illustrate the origin of certain mountain ranges by shrinkage of the globe." It is easy to make fun of the comparison today, but such visual analogies were common in the 19th century. They were used to explain complex theories of science or history to the public. Visual analogies like this one are revealing of the cultural values of the time. It shows a desire for education and visual aids which were used to support scientific narratives. By looking at the image in the context of its time, we see the social role that such images played in the public understanding of science and the natural world.