Kulu, Spiti; The Village of Sungnam, with the Hungoung Pass Above c. 1867

Curator: Here we have Samuel Bourne's "Kulu, Spiti; The Village of Sungnam, with the Hungoung Pass Above," part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It’s striking. The overwhelming scale of the landscape makes the village appear so fragile, almost impermanent. Curator: Bourne was fascinated by the sublime and how photography could capture it. This image reflects the British colonial gaze and its interest in documenting distant lands. Editor: Absolutely, but consider the sheer labour involved in creating such an image in the field. The wet plate collodion process demanded a portable darkroom tent and meticulous handling of chemicals under very harsh conditions. Curator: This photograph reveals the colonial ambition to map and categorize, visually laying claim to the landscape and its inhabitants. Editor: Yes, it is that, but also a document of immense human effort, both on the part of Bourne and the villagers carving out a life in this rugged terrain. The materiality speaks of a collision between technology and nature. Curator: It prompts us to consider the power dynamics inherent in image-making and the lasting impact of colonial representation. Editor: And to appreciate the tangible effort involved, a precursor to our instantaneous digital capture.