Maharatta, Chief of Gwalior, India, from the Savage and Semi-Barbarous Chiefs and Rulers series (N189) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1888

This chromolithograph of a Maharatta chief from Gwalior, India, was produced by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. as part of a series categorizing global leaders. The composition is dominated by the chief's head and shoulders, rendered with meticulous detail that contrasts sharply with the soft-focus background. The artist employs a palette of muted yellows and reds, achieving a striking balance between the subject’s attire and the surrounding space. Observe how the textures of his turban and robe are subtly differentiated through variations in line and color, indicating a keen attention to material detail. Yet, the series title "Savage and Semi-Barbarous Chiefs and Rulers" casts a shadow over the image. The formal elegance of the portrait clashes with the crude categorization, exposing the biases inherent in colonial-era representation. It invites us to critically examine the visual language used to construct hierarchies of power and civilization. This tension underscores that visual representation is always mediated by cultural and political ideologies.