Portret van drie onbekende Gosains uit Berar 1862

This is a portrait of three unknown Gosains from Berar by James Mulheran. The photograph offers a glimpse into the complex history of representation and identity in colonial India. During the colonial period photography was frequently used to document and categorize the diverse populations of the subcontinent. Here, we see a formal attempt to capture the likeness of Hindu devotees, but it's important to consider the power dynamics at play. Who gets to represent whom? Whose gaze is shaping the narrative? These men, likely part of a renunciate order, are presented through a colonial lens, one that flattens individual identities into a generalized type. What stories do they hold? What spiritual practices do they engage in? The photograph, while seemingly objective, is laden with cultural and historical assumptions. This makes us think about how we look, how we see, and how we interpret.