Initially published under the practical title Photographs of Streets, Closes, &c., Taken 1868-71, Thomas Annan's project, later formalized as The Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow, documents the urban living conditions of 19th-century Glasgow. Created between 1868 and 1871, this series documented the overcrowded and unsanitary tenements slated for demolition under the Glasgow City Improvement Act of 1866. Commissioned by the Glasgow City Improvement Trust, the project stands as one of the earliest uses of photography to chronicle urban living conditions, blending historical preservation with artistic expression.
In the mid-19th century, Glasgow was a booming industrial powerhouse, but its prosperity starkly contrasted with the living conditions of its working class. Thousands of impoverished families lived in densely packed "closes"—narrow alleyways lined with multi-story tenements lacking proper sanitation and ventilation. Diseases such as cholera and tuberculosis were rampant. Annan’s images—rich in shadow and detail—document these grim realities with a balanced and evocative visual approach. The project emerged during a time when urban reforms were beginning to address the stark inequalities of the industrial age.
Annan’s artistic vision was not overtly polemical; his photographs neither dramatize nor sanitize their subjects. Instead, they offer an unembellished portrayal of the deteriorating stonework, narrow passageways, and scattered debris of the closes, often bathed in natural light that intensifies their texture and atmosphere. This balance between realism and artistry situates his work within the Victorian "picturesque" tradition, capturing decay as a contemplative aesthetic.
Technically, Annan utilized the albumen print process for its ability to render fine detail and tonal gradations, a choice that underscores his meticulous approach to the medium. Later book editions, overseen by his son James Craig Annan, introduced photogravure, enhancing the images' textural richness and ensuring their legacy in art and documentary history. These editions brought Annan's work to wider acclaim, securing its place as a significant contribution to early photography.
First issued in small albumen sets (c. 1871) and a carbon edition (1878) for the Glasgow City Improvement Trust, the series reached wider audiences with the 1900 photogravure edition The Old Closes and Streets of Glasgow. Later reassessments—especially Thomas Annan: Photographer of Glasgow (J. Paul Getty Museum, 2017) and presentations at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery—have anchored its art-historical status, while substantial holdings in the MacKinnon Collection (National Galleries of Scotland/National Library of Scotland) and at the Mitchell Library support ongoing study and display.
