VISUAL CULTURE AND INDIAN PHOTOGRAPHY ID381.5—Visual Culture in India Kelly Callahan and JoLynne Holloman

“Earlier photography, for all its desire to move through space and to conquer new places and subjects always saw itself as a means of capturing those things that preceded it in the world” --Christopher Pinney --Christopher Pinney

Rajah of Bhurtpore in Durbar, c. 1860, Shepherd & Robertson, First Seen

Photography—A Historical Context  Photography originally came to India in January 1840 during colonial times  Cameras were first sold in Calcutta (Kolkata)  Photographic societies soon formed  Bombay Photographic Society Created 2 years after similar ones were formed in London & Paris Vishnu Pud and Other Temples by Samuel Bourne

Samuel Bourne  British born photographer who photographed India extensively during the colonial period:  “created photographic catalogue”  Included architecture, topography, urban landscapes  Sold throughout subcontinent and in Britain  Commissioned to take photographs of nobles  Also did commercial portraits

Historical Context continued  Beyond Bourne, there were hundreds of other photographers at this time  Photography was used as a method of cataloguing  The People of India ( ) was an eight-volume project that documented the many types of people inhabiting India

Pathans from the Peshawan Valley, c.1865 Bourne & Shepherd, First Seen: Portraits of the World’s Peoples

A Sweet Meat Shop, c John Edward Sache, First Seen: Portraits of the World’s Peoples

Architectural Photography: Old and New Photography became the preferred means of documentation for architects, draftsmen and archeologists.

“Picturesque” versus “Panorama”  These concepts were extremely instrumental in Indian photography  Still play a major role in the styles seen, those that are popular

Panoramas, Old and New Gujarat, India 2001

Commercial Photography  People enjoyed having their photograph taken in front of cardboard cutouts  Photo booths were often found at street fairs and festivals

Christopher Pinney: Photography in India  “bodies can be dressed in a limitless range of identities”  “…in front of the camera at least—identities are suspended and inverted”  “the external body is thus freed from the constraints with which it is shackled in the western tradition of painted portraiture”

Ways of Creating Photography  Photos were taken in front of painted studio backdrops of popular tourist spots  Elaborate costumes  Montages  Collages  Composite printing techniques

Photographs are Honored Then Now The people of India have always seemed to have honored the privilege of having their photograph taken. You can sense this in the nature of a photograph in the past as well as this recent photo. Danielle Crone, 2008

Maharaja & Court c , Bourne & Shepherd, First Seen

Reflections on Pinney’s Thoughts  Pinney’s ideas reflect the need for Indians to essentially “become” someone else in front of the camera  Photography gave one the ability to transform through costuming, elaborate scenery  Served as an escape

Conclusion  Indian photography has uniquely evolved to suit the needs of the country  Evident in styles Architectural Panoramic vs. Picturesque

Conclusion  Commercial photography was extremely popular  Gave the opportunity for one to transform themselves through use of elaborate costuming, backgrounds, etc.  Chance to be photographed is not taken for granted and is seen as an honor.