Fisher Lassies (Newhaven), c. 1843-1847
portrait, double, females, exterior;
Documenting the inhabitants of Newhaven, a fishing port near Edinburgh, was one of the most significant accomplishments of D. O. Hill and Robert Adamson. With their handmade creels and striped garb, these fisherwives are "types" of the sort one would expect from genre paintings. Yet the truthfulness and specificity of photography preserve the fact that they are real individuals. The shallow depth of field and long exposure time (perhaps a minute) blur the background, depicting a world of turmoil surrounding private strength. The title reflects the harsh realities of life on the Firth of Forth, whose tempestuous waters frequently claimed lives. According to a contemporary observation, "It's no fish ye're buying, it's men's lives."
More from David Octavius Hill, Robert AdamsonJohn Henning, R.S.A., Sculptor (1771-1851)
20.7 x 14.9 cm Newhaven Fisher Lassies at Rock House, Edinburgh
14.2 x 19.5 cm Miss Binney (Jane, later Mrs. James Webster)
21 x 15.7 cm