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The Crawlers

John Thomson

Artwork Details

The Crawlers
1876-1877
John Thomson
woodburytype on paper
4 9/16 in x 3 7/16 in (11.6 cm x 8.7 cm);19 5/16 in x 14 5/16 in (49.05 cm x 36.35 cm);10 5/8 in x 8 3/8 in (27 cm x 21.2 cm);4 9/16 in x 3 7/16 in (11.59 cm x 8.73 cm)
Museum Purchase
1972/2.383

Description

Subject Matter:

This photograph is an illustration from Adolphe Smith's Street Life in London (1877), a volume created in collaboration with John Thomson to document street life in London. This is an early example of photography's use for social documentary and photojournalism. The image was captioned, explaining the woman's history and how she came to be a "crawler," living in poverty on the street. Thomson was elected a member of the Royal Photographic Society in 1879, becoming photographer to Queen Victoria and later, George V.

Physical Description:

A photograph of a woman sitting on a stoop, leaning her head against a concrete and brick wall. She holds a baby in her lap. A cup of tea and a pitcher sit next to her on the step.

Usage Rights:

If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.