View of London with St. Paul's 

John Wilson Carmichael painted this view of London with St. Paul’s during a time of great transformation in the city. As industrialization boomed, London became a hub of commerce and maritime activity, powerfully shaped by British colonial expansion. Carmichael’s painting invites us to consider the intersections of labor, trade, and identity. The bustling docks suggest the city’s economic prosperity, yet what is not seen is the human cost of this progress and the underpaid labor that supported it. Who were these people working on the docks? What were their stories and experiences in the rapidly changing urban landscape? While the grandeur of St. Paul’s looms in the background, it stands in stark contrast to the more intimate scenes of everyday life. By focusing on this juxtaposition, Carmichael’s work subtly hints at the social disparities inherent in London’s growth. The painting thus becomes a poignant commentary on the complex dynamics of class, labor, and urban identity in 19th-century Britain.