Saltmarket from London Street 1885

Thomas Annan created this albumen print, “Saltmarket from London Street,” employing a muted palette to capture Glasgow's urban architecture. The composition is structured by the geometry of buildings, a grid of windows and vertical street lamps. The texture of the stone buildings and cobblestone streets is palpable, creating a stark contrast to the human figures that are captured in their daily life. The eye is drawn to the signs hanging from the buildings which create semiotic codes indicative of the commercial and social functions of the space. Annan's choice to capture the scene at street level invites the viewer into the space. The subdued tonality evokes a sense of the past, yet the structured composition provides a timeless quality, inviting viewers to interpret its cultural codes and social narratives.