Three young women waving lace in Galle, Sri Lanka 1862 - 1903

W.L.H. Skeen & Co. captured "Three Young Women Waving Lace in Galle, Sri Lanka" using a photographic process that yields a sepia-toned image, rich in textural detail. The composition is arranged around a central seated figure, flanked by two younger women engaged in lace-making. Notice how the photograph's tonal range creates a spatial recession. The subjects in the foreground are sharply defined, drawing our eye into the intricate details of their craft, while the background fades subtly, creating depth. Skeen’s arrangement of the figures—two working and one observing—creates a narrative about labour, leisure, and social structure. The photograph is not merely a record but an arrangement; it invites questions about representation, labour, and the colonial gaze. The composition is designed to highlight the material culture of Sri Lanka. The sepia tones evoke a sense of nostalgia, framing the image within a particular historical context, inviting continued examination of its aesthetic and cultural implications.