Kulu, Spiti; View on the Beas, near Larji c. 1867

Editor: This photograph, “Kulu, Spiti; View on the Beas, near Larji” by Samuel Bourne, captures a stunning river valley. The tones are so muted; what do you see in this composition? Curator: For me, it evokes the sublime. Bourne presents nature as an overwhelming force, a concept deeply embedded in Western art, influencing artistic perspectives on the East. Editor: So, the river isn't just a river? Curator: The river, in this context, can become a potent symbol. It embodies the ceaseless passage of time, the eroding power of nature, and even spiritual purification across cultures. What do you make of that? Editor: Seeing it that way helps me understand the symbolic weight these landscapes carried for Western audiences. Thanks! Curator: You're welcome. It shows how photographic images become vessels of cultural memory.