Couple Seated, Woman Reading 1843 - 1847

This calotype photograph was made in Scotland between 1843 and 1848 by the partnership of David Hill and Robert Adamson. The image speaks to the cultural values of its time: intellect, domesticity and the leisure to enjoy both. In 1840s Scotland, the new medium of photography was quickly taken up by artists and intellectuals. Here, the woman's engagement with a book suggests education and refinement, while the man's contemplative pose speaks to his intellectual interests. The soft focus and sepia tones evoke a sense of nostalgia and romanticism, in keeping with the literary and artistic tastes of the period. Hill and Adamson were pioneering photographers who used their art to document Scottish society and culture. To understand this image fully, we might consult period literature, conduct biographical research into the sitters, or examine the institutional history of early photography. Only through this contextualization can we appreciate the nuances of its historical meaning.