Willie Liston, 'Redding [cleaning or preparing] the line'; Newhaven fisherman
About this artwork
This is one of about 120 calotypes by Hill and Adamson that document the life and work of the fishermen and fishwives of Newhaven, a fishing village to the north of Edinburgh. This dramatic portrait shows Willie Liston, a fisherman, at work ‘redding’, or preparing, the fishing line. This lengthy and painstaking job involved cleaning hundreds of hooks on the line and baiting them with mussels. The careful positioning of Liston in the sunlight has created a dark shadow across his face, which helps to focus attention on his working hands.
Updated before 2020
see media-
artists:
-
title:Willie Liston, 'Redding [cleaning or preparing] the line'; Newhaven fisherman
-
date created:1843 - 1847
-
materials:Salted paper print
-
measurements:20.80 x 15.70 cm
-
object type:
-
accession number:PGP HA 300
-
gallery:
-
depicted:
-
subject:
Robert Adamson
Robert Adamson
Robert Adamson was one of the first professional photographers, setting up in business in Edinburgh in March 1843. He had aspired to be an engineer but his health was too poor. His brother, John, who was involved in the early experiments with photography in St Andrews, taught him the calotype...