Interieur van de Jama Masjid in Ahmedabad before 1866

This photograph of the Jama Masjid in Ahmedabad, was taken by Thomas Biggs, using a process that was still relatively new at the time. Photography emerged in the 19th century, demanding a new kind of labor. Chemical processes replaced the hand of the artist, though photographic practice involved skill and judgment. Here, the choice of subject is key: the Masjid itself embodies an immense amount of hand labor. Look closely and you can see the patterns of carved decoration, each column unique. Consider the organization of that labor. Who were the artisans? How were they trained? How long did it take to complete the mosque? Biggs’ photograph allows us to consider this history, framing it for a new age of industrial production. In doing so, it asks us to consider the value of human effort, in a world increasingly dominated by machine-made things.