Twee mensen in een woonkamer before 1890

This image, titled 'Two People in a Living Room' and attributed to Valentine & Sons, offers a glimpse into a crofter's cottage on the Isle of Skye. The photograph captures a moment in the lives of crofters, small-scale farmers, who tenanted and worked the land, often under harsh conditions. This photograph invites us to consider the gendered division of labor within the crofting community: While the woman is seated near the fireplace spinning, the man sits at the table, perhaps engaged in mending tools or other tasks. The setting—the sparse interior of the cottage—speaks to the economic realities and resilience of these communities. In a time of significant social and economic change, this image serves not just as a documentary record but as a piece that acknowledges a population's struggle for survival and cultural preservation.