A groundbreaking new exhibition is bringing overdue recognition to George Shaw, a Victorian scientist who played a pivotal role in shaping the future of photography but has remained largely forgotten by history. Shaw, described as one of Birmingham's "most overlooked innovators," not only created the first photograph in the city but also championed education and helped establish Birmingham's first free public library.
The exhibition, currently on display at the West Midlands Metro Town Hall stop, features rare reproductions of Shaw's images and archive materials, including recently discovered daguerreotypes that are among the earliest examples of modern photography. These historical treasures showcase Shaw's remarkable achievements during the dawn of the photographic age.
Shaw's timing and expertise proved crucial to his success in the emerging field of photography. Artist Jo Gane from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, who researched Shaw's life in collaboration with the late Birmingham Library curator of photographs Pete James, explained that Shaw created Birmingham's first daguerreotype photograph within just two days of photography's announcement in France in August 1839. As a professor of chemistry, Shaw was the "right person at the right time" because his deep understanding of chemical behavior allowed him to bridge science, art, and industry.
The scientist's diverse professional background made him uniquely qualified for photographic innovation. Working as both a chemistry professor and a patent agent, Shaw was "really plugged in to manufacturing and scientific advances in industry in Birmingham," according to Gane. This connection to Birmingham's thriving industrial scene proved essential, particularly given the city's expertise in silver plate manufacturing, which was crucial for daguerreotype production.
Daguerreotypes, invented by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre, are images created on copper plates coated with silver. Gane emphasized Birmingham's industrial importance in this context, noting that "industry in Birmingham was really important, because of the innovation in the manufacture of silver plate in the city." In the 1840s, when Shaw was practicing this art form, daguerreotype photography "wasn't really available to the consumer, and was something that was quite a difficult specialist thing to do."
Beyond his photographic achievements, Shaw was deeply committed to education and social progress. He served as vice president of the Mechanics Institute in Birmingham and was considered a "key figure" in promoting the idea of education for all. His artistic pursuits extended beyond photography through his friendship with prominent city landscape painter Frederick Henry Henshaw, with whom he went on sketching and photographing expeditions.
Shaw's scientific contributions earned recognition from some of the era's most distinguished figures. His work received praise from Michael Faraday, one of the most celebrated scientists of the time, and Shaw was invited to lecture at the prestigious Royal Society on photographic techniques. These accolades demonstrate the high regard in which his contemporaries held his scientific and artistic innovations.
The breadth of Shaw's accomplishments may have contributed to his historical obscurity. "I think he's been forgotten about because of the breadth of his work, as an artist, chemist and photographer," Gane observed. Her PhD research focused on understanding Shaw's contributions to early photography, manufacturing, and industry in Birmingham, helping to piece together the full scope of his influence.
The free exhibition, designed by Stacey Barnfield and developed by Gane in partnership with the Colmore BID team, will remain on display until January. The showcase includes portraits and local landscape photographs that Shaw captured, including an image of New Street in Birmingham city center, providing visitors with a glimpse into the city's Victorian-era appearance through the lens of this pioneering photographer.
Melanie Williams, board director of the Colmore BID, emphasized the exhibition's broader significance for Birmingham's cultural identity. She described Shaw's story as "a powerful reminder of Birmingham's legacy as a city of innovation and creativity." Williams added that the exhibition "not only celebrates a largely unrecognized pioneer, but also invites the city to better reflect and respect its rich industrial and artistic heritage."
