Portrait of two unknown Toda women from the Nilgiri hills, Tamil Nadu, India 1860 - 1890

This is a photographic portrait of two Toda women from the Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu, India, taken by A. T. W. Penn. The photograph, with its sepia tones, is a product of specific materials and processes of 19th-century photography. Think about the work involved: the preparation of the photographic plates, the precise timing of the exposure, and the subsequent development process. Beyond the technical skill, consider the social context. Photography, then as now, had the power to capture and sometimes, to misrepresent. The women here are adorned with traditional shawls, jewelry, and hairstyles. But who decided how they would be presented? How much did they participate in shaping the image? This photograph offers a glimpse into a specific moment, mediated by the photographer's eye, and the colonial context in which it was made. By considering the materials, the making, and the context, we can gain a richer understanding of this compelling portrait.