Exhibition buildings at Jabapur, Madhya Pradesh, India 1867

Here, we see Samuel Bourne’s albumen print of the exhibition buildings at Jabapur in Madhya Pradesh, India. The photograph’s composition divides into distinct sections that create a striking interplay between space and form. The building, centered, with its geometric shapes, contrasts sharply with the organic form of the large tree on the right, setting up a visual dialogue between the man-made and the natural. The figures in the foreground are rendered with a muted tonality, but their placement adds a sense of scale and human presence. The architectural lines and curves of the exhibition buildings are mirrored in the linear arrangement and postures of the individuals. Bourne’s manipulation of light and shadow accentuates the texture of the buildings and landscape, heightening the sense of depth. This photograph not only documents a place but also invites us to consider the formal relationships between its elements. It explores how cultural narratives are constructed through visual means.