Close No. 80 High Street 1868

Editor: So, here we have Thomas Annan’s “Close No. 80 High Street,” taken in 1868. It’s an albumen print, giving it that wonderfully sepia, old-world feel. There’s something melancholic about this narrow street, but also very intimate. What jumps out at you when you look at it? Curator: It's funny you say melancholic, because I see something quite the opposite: life! Annan captured this scene as part of a project documenting the slums of Glasgow before they were demolished. Imagine walking through here, the smells, the sounds, the grit – life overflowing, unapologetically. That lamplight hanging overhead, promising illumination even in the darkest corners. What do you think he was trying to tell us? Editor: That's interesting; I hadn't thought of it that way! I guess I focused on the… well, the griminess. Maybe he wanted to preserve a record of the people who lived there? Give them a sense of dignity? Curator: Precisely! Think about the choices he made. The angle, drawing you right down the street into this other world, full of texture. I'd bet people went about their lives right then as though he was never even there. It feels authentic and candid. Editor: Looking closer, I see what you mean about “life.” There are people in the distance and kids are actually visible near those doorways. It’s not just decay, it’s a community! Curator: Absolutely! I imagine that capturing it wasn't so easy, either, you know? All that heavy equipment, moving quickly, using sunlight at that time... the image does feel raw. Editor: This really gives me a lot to think about – seeing the photograph less as a portrait of urban decay and more as a snapshot of a vibrant community is definitely eye-opening! Curator: That’s the beauty of art, isn’t it? It speaks differently to each of us, at different times.