Fotoreproductie van The Farewell to France door Robert Herdman before 1868

This is a photogravure reproduction by Thomas Annan of Robert Herdman's painting, "The Farewell to France," and it encapsulates themes of departure and longing that resonated deeply in 19th-century Scotland. Annan, living in a time of significant social upheaval, captured the emotional weight of emigration. As the Highland Clearances forced many Scots from their homes, images of farewells became poignant symbols of loss and resilience. Here, the figures on the ship embody this sense of displacement, their expressions reflecting a mix of sorrow and uncertainty as they leave their homeland behind. Consider how gender dynamics play out here, too. Are women often portrayed as the emotional anchors in these scenes of departure, tasked with bearing the weight of familial separation? This photogravure not only preserves Herdman’s painting but also echoes the broader historical narrative of a nation grappling with change, identity, and the painful realities of diaspora.