Darjeeling, from the Grounds of Beechwood Park, Looking North c. 1867

Curator: This is Samuel Bourne's "Darjeeling, from the Grounds of Beechwood Park, Looking North." I love how the details sort of swim in the distance. Editor: It feels like a history lesson, but one viewed through sepia-toned glasses. I mean, consider the colonial gaze here. Curator: Yes, there's a definite power dynamic, yet the scene itself has a quiet intimacy. The way he captures the light filtering through those trees... Editor: Absolutely, but we can't ignore the broader context. What was life like for the people who lived there, under British rule? What stories are missing from this frame? Curator: It's a romanticized vision, no doubt. Maybe Bourne saw beauty, but we must acknowledge the structures that made such beauty possible. It is a window, albeit a distorted one. Editor: Indeed. The act of seeing itself carries so much weight. Curator: It's a reminder to look beyond the surface, to question the narratives that are presented to us. Editor: Exactly. Let us always remember what lies outside the frame.