Rangoon: Mission House at Kemindine 1855

Linnaeus Tripe made this photograph of the Mission House at Kemindine using the Calotype process. The image presents us with a serene view of a building nestled within the landscape of Rangoon, now Yangon, in Myanmar. Tripe made this image in the mid-19th century, a period marked by British colonial expansion in Burma. Tripe was working as a photographer for the British East India Company, and his images documented architecture and landscapes, often connected to colonial interests. This photograph reflects the cultural encounters and exchanges that shaped colonial society. The mission house itself symbolizes the presence of Western religious institutions, which were instruments of cultural influence. Art historians consult a range of resources to fully understand these works. We need to look at historical archives, colonial records, and missionary accounts, to analyze this image within the context of British colonialism and its impact on Burmese society. It is through such inquiries that we can better appreciate the complex meanings embedded within this photograph.