Nelson's Column op Trafalgar Square 1851 - 1880

This albumen print of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square was captured by James Valentine, a Scottish photographer who lived from 1815 to 1880. In the late 19th century, photography began to transform how people perceived themselves and the world. Valentine's photograph freezes a moment in London's civic heart, dominated by a monument to British naval power and imperial ambition. But it’s also a glimpse into the daily lives of Londoners, the working class who are dwarfed by the monumental architecture. It is impossible to ignore the politics inherent in such a public space. The column, a tribute to Admiral Nelson, speaks volumes about Britain's colonial past and its construction rests on the labor of countless unseen hands, both in its physical creation and in the empire that Nelson helped to maintain. Seen today, Valentine's work offers a window into a past where class and empire were literally set in stone, inviting us to reflect on how public spaces continue to shape our collective identity.