About this artwork

This is the only Newhaven child shown alone in a calotype. The title, His Faither’s Breeks, implies that this boy is an orphan and has inherited his father’s trousers, as well as his work and responsibilities. Fishing was a profitable but dangerous profession, and children whose fathers had been drowned at sea were not uncommon. Hill and Adamson took about 120 calotypes in the fishing village of Newhaven, documenting the life and work of its inhabitants. The fishing community was self-sufficient and close-knit; fishermen and women married amongst themselves and raised their children in the fishing tradition. Founded around 1570, the Society of Free Fishermen played a large role in the community, providing help in times of need and protecting the widows and orphans.

Updated before 2020

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Robert Adamson

Robert Adamson