Jimmy Miller 1843 - 1847

This salt print photograph, "Jimmy Miller," was made in the 1840s by the Scottish duo Hill and Adamson. It pictures a young boy dressed in Highland attire, including a kilt and sporran, resting his hand on what appears to be a helmet. The salt print process, one of the earliest forms of photography, involved coating paper with a silver salt solution, then exposing it to light through a negative. The resulting print has a soft, warm tone, and a slightly grainy texture. The process was labor intensive, requiring careful preparation and handling of materials. This image prompts us to consider the cultural significance of textiles and dress. Highland attire carries deep social and historical associations with Scotland. The boy’s clothing, a hand-made textile, speaks to a tradition of skilled labor and cultural identity. By focusing on these elements, we can see photography not just as a record, but also as a document of material culture.