Darjeeling; Snowy Range c. 1863 - 1868

Curator: This is Samuel Bourne's photograph, "Darjeeling; Snowy Range," which is currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's breathtaking. There's something so mystical about the way the mountain ranges fade into the distance. Like layers of dreams. Curator: Bourne was quite meticulous. His photographs were produced using the collodion process which involved on-site darkrooms and significant logistical planning, making photographs like this evidence of colonial enterprise. Editor: It makes me consider the weight of capturing a landscape, both physically and metaphorically. The process, the equipment, the intention—it all leaves its mark. Curator: Absolutely. And the scale of that labor reflects the broader project of surveying and documenting India under British rule. Editor: Knowing that context does change the way I see it. It layers another meaning onto those misty peaks. Curator: It’s a testament to how context transforms an image, doesn't it? Editor: It certainly does. Art and labor intertwined.