Close No. 65 High Street 1868

"Close No. 65 High Street" (1868), a calotype photograph by Thomas Annan, captures a narrow, densely populated alleyway in Glasgow. The image, now held in the Art Institute of Chicago, showcases the harsh realities of urban life in Victorian Scotland, a time of industrial boom and severe poverty. The cramped space, with its cobblestone path and unkempt buildings, offers a glimpse into the daily lives of the working class. The presence of laundry drying on lines and a solitary figure in the distance underscores the simple yet difficult conditions faced by many during this era. Annan’s use of photography to document social issues became pivotal in shaping social reform movements.