View from the Fágu road near Simla before 1895

This photograph, “View from the Fágu road near Simla”, was made by Frederick Saint John Gore sometime between 1857 and 1903. It’s a straightforward photographic print, the kind that became increasingly popular as a means of documenting the world. The material itself – photographic paper – may seem unremarkable today. But consider that in Gore’s time, it represented a radical shift in image-making. Unlike painting or drawing, which required skilled handwork, photography offered a seemingly objective record of reality. Yet, this very quality raises questions about labor and class. Who had access to this technology? Whose stories were being told, and from what perspective? As we gaze upon this vista of the Fágu road, let's also reflect on the social context that allowed this image to be created and disseminated. It prompts us to consider the power dynamics inherent in the act of capturing and presenting a view of the world.