Alexander Henderson – Winter 1870s
© McCord Museum - photographer Alexander Henderson. Cutting ice, St. Lawrence River near Victoria Bridge, Montreal, QC, circa 1870
Winter hasn’t yet arrived in Montreal. Sure it’s getting a little cold but no snow. I haven’t really been wearing my winter boots yet. Every year winter seems to be arriving a little later and summer stays a little longer. I don’t love winter, on the contrary I’m one of those that usually hibernates and only goes out when necessary. All this to say is that it feels odd this warmish weather. So to revive winter and all it’s whiteness and coldness here are some photographs taken in Montreal in the late 1800s by Alexander Henderson.
Henderson moved to Canada in 1855 from England and started his career as a photographer in 1866. He became known for his landscape photography and was hired as a photographer for the Canadian Pacific Railway to document the construction and the landscape they needed to construct through. Henderson worked around the same time as William Notman and his company, a recognized name in the city and the Country. I was introduced to Henderson a couple of weeks ago and was really excited. His landscapes of Canada have been (to say with lack of better words) an “ah YES” moment. I’m working on a new series and these images have been an inspiration and reference I have been looking for and to add to that I’m looking forward in researching his work further as I’ll be involved in a really interesting project starting in the new year.
Henderson’s work seems to be not as well known as Notman’s work. If somebody asked me to name a Canadian photographer of the 19th century I would no doubt, without hesitation say Notman, but now I think I’m converted and a fan of Henderson’s. I find Henderson’s photography to be more aware of the people and their relationship within the landscape, compared to Notman or I should his son William McFarlane Notman (the company) who also worked on and for the CPR at roughly the same time as Henderson. Maybe this debate is for another post because the images presented fall short of comparisons as I’m attempting to conjure winter in Montreal. - Look at that ice!
© McCord Museum - photographer Alexander Henderson. Ice shove at City Hall (Bonsecours Market), Montreal, QC, 1873-74
© McCord Museum - photographer Alexander Henderson. Skating rink in the harbour, Montreal, QC, circa 1870
