Gezicht op een boog van een moskee in Ahmedabad before 1866

This albumen print shows the facade of a mosque in Ahmedabad, India, and it's attributed to Thomas Biggs. It likely dates to the mid-19th century, when photography was still a relatively new medium. The image creates meaning through visual codes typical of colonial-era documentation. In terms of cultural references and historical associations, it reflects the British Empire's interest in cataloging and studying the architecture and culture of India. Specific features of Indian culture, such as religion and architectural styles, are put on display, while the very act of photographing them reinforces the power dynamics of the time. The photograph itself can be interpreted as a reflection on the social structures of its time, self-consciously participating in the project of documenting and thereby possessing the cultural heritage of India. The historian can interpret the image using a range of resources, including colonial archives, travelogues, and studies of architectural history, to better understand the social and institutional contexts that shaped its making.