Revlining Buddha, Gal Vihara in Polonnaruwa before 1872

This albumen silver print shows the reclining Buddha at Gal Vihara in Polonnaruwa, most likely created in the late 19th century by Joseph Lawton. Lawton’s photograph raises questions about the public role of art, and the politics of imagery. The image serves as a visual record of cultural heritage during a period of British colonial influence in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. The Gal Vihara sculptures themselves, carved in the 12th century, are integral to understanding the religious and artistic traditions of the Sinhalese kingdom. Lawton's photograph invites reflection on the socio-political context of Ceylon at the time, and the varying influences of Western photography on local culture. It makes us consider cultural preservation, colonialism, and the Western gaze. Understanding such an image requires historical research into British colonial Ceylon, the history of photography as a tool of documentation and exploration, and the religious and artistic traditions of Sri Lanka.