Fotoreproductie van een schets van Blowing Bubbles. The Past and the Present door Sir George Harvey before 1870

This is Thomas Annan’s photographic reproduction of Sir George Harvey’s sketch, "Blowing Bubbles. The Past and the Present". While the date of creation is unknown, Annan lived and worked during a time of significant social and economic change in Scotland. In the context of Victorian society, images of children were potent symbols of innocence, domesticity, and the future. Harvey's original sketch captures a seemingly idyllic scene of childhood joy, with children playfully blowing bubbles. Annan’s choice to reproduce this sketch through photography speaks to his interest in capturing and disseminating images of everyday life. However, it is impossible to ignore the historical backdrop against which Annan operated. As Glasgow's city photographer, he also documented the grim realities of poverty and urban decay. By reproducing Harvey's sentimental image, Annan invites viewers to consider the complex relationship between idealized representations of childhood and the lived experiences of children in a rapidly changing society. It prompts us to reflect on whose stories are told and whose are left out of the frame.