Nuwara Eliya c. 1900

Henry William Cave made this photograph entitled 'Nuwara Eliya' sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. It depicts the highlands of what was then Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, during a period of intense British colonial activity. Photography like this played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of colonized lands. Cave's work presents an ordered, picturesque landscape, subtly reinforcing the colonial narrative of improvement and cultivation. However, it is essential to consider what this image leaves out. Where are the local communities, whose labor and land were essential to the tea plantations that defined Nuwara Eliya? This photograph, like many from the era, reflects a specific, power-laden gaze, one that favored the colonizer's perspective. To fully understand this photograph, we need to consult a range of sources: colonial archives, local histories, and postcolonial critiques, uncovering the complex layers of history embedded within this seemingly simple landscape.