Portret van Futtoo Khan en zijn broer, beide borduurders before 1872

This photograph of Futtoo Khan and his brother was captured by Henry Charles Baskerville Tanner. The composition is immediately striking, enclosed within an oval frame. The tonal range, dominated by sepia, gives the scene a textured depth, emphasizing the materiality of the subjects' garments. The two figures are arranged to create a semiotic dialogue through their placement and attire. Futtoo Khan stands, adorned in elaborately embroidered robes that cascade with intricate patterns, indicative of status and artistry. His brother kneels, presenting a textile that serves as a focal point. The contrast in their positions and the textures of their clothing suggests a structured social dynamic. This photograph is more than a record; it’s a constructed image, a tableau vivant that invites us to decode the symbols of identity and profession embedded in its formal arrangement. It challenges us to consider how photography, even in its early stages, engaged with themes of representation and cultural documentation.