Ellora, Exterior of the Jugnath Subba (or Court of Juggernauth) c. 1869

Editor: This is Colin Murray's "Ellora, Exterior of the Jugnath Subba," a photograph showing a carved cave entrance. It's incredible how the architecture seems to emerge directly from the rock face. What strikes you most about this image? Curator: I’m drawn to the labor and tools needed to carve this space and create the elaborate reliefs. Consider the social conditions: who commissioned this work, and what system allowed for such resource investment in religious spaces? Editor: So, it's not just about the aesthetic, but about the resources and society behind it? Curator: Precisely. The very materiality of the stone and the process of its transformation are central to understanding its meaning and purpose. It shows the power structures at play. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about regarding the connection between art, labor, and the society in which it was created. Curator: Indeed. It prompts us to examine how material conditions shape artistic expression.