Agra, Taj and Garden from the Entrance Gate 1863 - 1866

Curator: Samuel Bourne captured this view, "Agra, Taj and Garden from the Entrance Gate." It’s now part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It’s remarkably symmetrical. The Taj Mahal sits centered, framed by gardens, with the path drawing your eye directly to it. Curator: Bourne was very interested in documenting the British presence in India. Photography provided visual documentation of the Empire's reach and grandeur. Editor: The monochrome palette emphasizes texture and form. The contrast is quite high, almost stark, which enhances the Taj Mahal’s luminosity. Curator: Exactly. This image provided visual proof to those at home of the jewel that was the Taj, re-inscribing its position in the British imagination. Editor: The play of light and shadow across the façade adds depth and a sense of awe. It's not just a building, it's an architectural statement. Curator: Indeed. And the photograph serves as a potent reminder of the complexities inherent in viewing art through the lens of colonial history. Editor: Precisely. Bourne’s mastery of composition, though, renders it timeless regardless of its origins.