Ashlaad, Serpentine Walk c. 1860

Editor: This is "Ashlaad, Serpentine Walk," a stereograph by the Studio of Carpenter & Muller. It has a quiet, almost staged feeling to it. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: The controlled leisure depicted here tells us much about colonial society. Who has access to such spaces of respite, and what roles are they performing for the camera? Editor: So, it's not just a simple walk in the park? Curator: Not at all. Consider how the image itself circulates and reinforces these social dynamics, shaping perceptions of privilege and access. Editor: That makes me see it very differently. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It is important to view through a critical lens.