James Linton and Three Boys, Newhaven c. 1843 - 1916

David Octavius Hill made this photograph, "James Linton and Three Boys, Newhaven," using the calotype process. Hill, working in Scotland during the 1840s, captured the likenesses of working-class individuals, elevating them through the then-new medium of photography. This image reflects a broader 19th-century interest in depicting the lives of ordinary people, a theme explored in literature and painting as well. The choice of Newhaven, a fishing village, is significant. Fishing was not just an occupation, but a way of life deeply interwoven with the social and economic fabric of Scotland. What's striking is how Hill uses light and composition to create a sense of dignity and quiet strength in his subjects. We can examine census records, local histories, and studies of Scottish social structures to better understand the context in which Hill was working. Art history, like history itself, depends on such investigations to properly understand the meaning of images.