The Seller of Shellfish
Photograph
1877-1878 (made)
1877-1878 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
The photographer John Thomson (1837-1921) used the 'Woodburytype' process patented in 1864 for the images in Street Life in London, including this photograph. This was a type of photomechanical reproduction using pigmented gelatin, usually of a rich purple-brown colour. The process was complicated but remained popular until about 1900 because of the high quality and permanence of the finished images.
Social Class
The stallholder in this photograph sold crabs, lobsters, oysters, whelks and eels. He collected the goods for the day at 5 o'clock in the morning from Billingsgate Market in the City of London. Both he and his wife worked on the stall, leaving their children at home to look after themselves, sometimes until 12.30 at night. When business at the stall was bad the seller added to his income by selling shellfish in pubs, cleaning windows and beating carpets.
Real or Posed?
The people in the pictures were arranged or posed by Thomson to form interesting compositions. However, the results were often naturalistic because the subjects and surroundings were always authentic.
The photographer John Thomson (1837-1921) used the 'Woodburytype' process patented in 1864 for the images in Street Life in London, including this photograph. This was a type of photomechanical reproduction using pigmented gelatin, usually of a rich purple-brown colour. The process was complicated but remained popular until about 1900 because of the high quality and permanence of the finished images.
Social Class
The stallholder in this photograph sold crabs, lobsters, oysters, whelks and eels. He collected the goods for the day at 5 o'clock in the morning from Billingsgate Market in the City of London. Both he and his wife worked on the stall, leaving their children at home to look after themselves, sometimes until 12.30 at night. When business at the stall was bad the seller added to his income by selling shellfish in pubs, cleaning windows and beating carpets.
Real or Posed?
The people in the pictures were arranged or posed by Thomson to form interesting compositions. However, the results were often naturalistic because the subjects and surroundings were always authentic.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
|
| Materials and techniques | Woodburytype |
| Brief description | Seller of shellfish |
| Physical description | Photograph |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | British Galleries:
PHOTOGRAPHS FROM 'STREET LIFE IN LONDON' These photographs were first published in 12 instalments in 1877-1878 in a series entitled 'Street Life in London'. John Thomson had earlier photographed in China and recognized London as a remarkable new subject. Together with journalist Adolphe Smith he wrote commentaries on each image. 'Street Life' is among the earliest and most evocative examples of social documentary photography.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by Mrs D. Crisp |
| Object history | Taken in London by John Thomson (born in Edinburgh, 1837, died in London, 1921) |
| Summary | Object Type The photographer John Thomson (1837-1921) used the 'Woodburytype' process patented in 1864 for the images in Street Life in London, including this photograph. This was a type of photomechanical reproduction using pigmented gelatin, usually of a rich purple-brown colour. The process was complicated but remained popular until about 1900 because of the high quality and permanence of the finished images. Social Class The stallholder in this photograph sold crabs, lobsters, oysters, whelks and eels. He collected the goods for the day at 5 o'clock in the morning from Billingsgate Market in the City of London. Both he and his wife worked on the stall, leaving their children at home to look after themselves, sometimes until 12.30 at night. When business at the stall was bad the seller added to his income by selling shellfish in pubs, cleaning windows and beating carpets. Real or Posed? The people in the pictures were arranged or posed by Thomson to form interesting compositions. However, the results were often naturalistic because the subjects and surroundings were always authentic. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | PH.348-1982 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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