The Crawlers
John Thomson
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:
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