The Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah c. 1858 - 1862

“The Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah” was created by John Murray using albumen silver print. Murray, as a photographer in British India, occupied a unique position, navigating the power dynamics between the colonizer and the colonized. This image captures not just the architectural marvel of the tomb, but also the cultural landscape of 19th-century India. The tomb itself, often referred to as the "Baby Taj," was commissioned by Empress Nur Jahan for her father, Itimad-ud-Daulah, a Mughal official. It stands as a testament to the power and influence of women in Mughal society, who often commissioned architectural projects. Murray's photograph invites us to consider the gaze through which we view such monuments. As a British photographer, his perspective would have been shaped by the colonial context, influencing what he chose to capture and how he presented it. The photograph becomes a layered document, reflecting both the grandeur of Mughal architecture and the complexities of colonial representation.