Untitled (man in a one seat cart) c. 1860 - 1880

Curator: Here we have Willoughby Wallace Hooper’s “Untitled (man in a one seat cart),” a photograph that entered the Harvard Art Museums collection. Hooper was active in India during the late 19th century. Editor: It's struck me how much the quality of light brings out the textures. The cart's wheel spokes, the rough wall, even the fabric of the man's clothes. Curator: Hooper's work gives insight into the social dynamics of British India. The composition itself implies a hierarchy, the seated man elevated above the animal. Editor: And consider the labor involved. Not just the animal’s, but the unseen artisan who crafted the cart itself – a testament to local craft traditions. Curator: Indeed, these images were often circulated to reinforce colonial power structures, shaping perceptions of Indian life for Western audiences. Editor: It makes you wonder about the circulation of materials, the movement of images, and the power of representation inherent in them. Curator: The photograph certainly captures a moment laden with social and political implications of the era. Editor: Precisely, and thinking about the physical creation gives one a new layer of appreciation for the image.