Delhi, Tomb of Emperor Toghluk, Ruins of Fort in Foreground 1863 - 1866

Curator: This is Samuel Bourne’s photograph, "Delhi, Tomb of Emperor Toghluk, Ruins of Fort in Foreground." Bourne, a British photographer active in India, captured this image sometime in the late 19th century, using the wet collodion process. Editor: It feels like a whisper from the past, doesn't it? The desaturated tones lend a ghostly air to the scene, making me feel as though I'm standing among ancient secrets. Curator: The image speaks volumes about the material realities of empire. Bourne's presence there, the transport of bulky photographic equipment, the chemical processes involved—all underscore colonial enterprise. Editor: Absolutely. And the composition, too, draws the eye in tiers—from the ruins in the foreground to the distant tomb, like layers of history exposed, each whispering tales of power and decay. It is haunting. Curator: Precisely. By examining Bourne's methods and the context of his work, we begin to see the photograph as more than just a scenic view, but as an artifact shaped by labor, technology and empire. Editor: It’s funny, I come away seeing echoes of myself in those ruins. This work reminds me that even empires are fleeting.