Close No. 11 Bridgegate 1897

"Close No. 11 Bridgegate" (1897), a platinum print by James Craig Annan, captures the stark beauty of an alleyway in Glasgow, Scotland. The image's muted tones and atmospheric quality, created by the use of platinum printing, draw the viewer into the narrow space, where a line of laundry hangs limply, suggesting the quietude of the day. Annan, a leading figure in the Pictorialist movement, employed a painterly aesthetic in his photographs, seeking to elevate photography as an art form. This work exemplifies his approach to depicting everyday scenes with artistic vision.