Warren Hastings, Esq. c. 18th century

Editor: This is a print of Warren Hastings, Esq., by Thomas Gaugain. The subject appears stoic, rendered almost like a classical bust. What do you see in this piece beyond a simple portrait? Curator: I see a portrait deeply embedded in the politics of empire. Hastings was a key figure in the East India Company, and this image, with its classical allusions, seeks to legitimize his power and presence. How does this sanitization erase the complexities of colonial rule? Editor: So the classical style serves to mask a more problematic history? Curator: Precisely. It's a visual strategy that attempts to equate colonial authority with established, respected traditions, obscuring the violence and exploitation inherent in the colonial project. What does it mean to remember Hastings only as this sanitized image? Editor: It gives me a lot to think about regarding how we visually remember historical figures. Thanks! Curator: Absolutely. This piece invites us to question the narratives that portraits construct and perpetuate.