Water commissioners at Royal Cottage, Loch Katrine, annual inspection of works, August 24th 1876 Possibly 1876 - 1878

T. & R. Annan & Sons made this albumen print in 1876, depicting the Water Commissioners at Royal Cottage, Loch Katrine, during their annual inspection. This photograph captures a moment of civic pride and accomplishment amidst the backdrop of Scotland's industrial revolution. The image presents a study in contrasts. The rugged, natural beauty of Loch Katrine, a vital source of water for Glasgow, is juxtaposed with the formal gathering of men, the commissioners, who appear uniformly dressed, embodying power and authority. Their presence here underscores Victorian society's efforts to control and manage natural resources. The all-male composition of the group speaks volumes about the gendered nature of governance and engineering professions at the time. Consider how the image represents both progress and exclusion. It invites us to reflect on who benefits from such advancements, and whose voices are absent from these historical narratives.