Calcutta Panoramic View from Chowringhee Road 1867

Editor: Here we have Samuel Bourne's "Calcutta Panoramic View from Chowringhee Road," a photograph of impressive scale. It feels very staged, almost like a carefully constructed set. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It presents a carefully curated image of British colonial power. Note the manicured landscape, the imposing architecture, and the very deliberate composition. Bourne was commissioned to showcase the grandeur and order that the British Empire sought to project. Editor: So, the photograph functions as propaganda? Curator: Precisely! It’s an idealised representation of Calcutta, obscuring any social unrest or inequality. The public role of photography here is to reinforce imperial dominance. Editor: That’s a very different perspective than my initial read. Curator: Understanding the historical context transforms our appreciation, doesn't it? It reveals the politics embedded within the seemingly objective photographic image. Editor: It certainly does. Thanks for sharing your expertise!