Remains of the galleries of Sigiri 1896

This photograph of the “Remains of the galleries of Sigiri” was taken by Henry William Cave, a British author and photographer who worked in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cave's presence in Ceylon was a direct result of British colonial expansion, where photography played a crucial role in documenting and representing colonized lands. Cave was interested in Ceylon’s ancient history and architecture, as this photograph of the rock fortress Sigiriya attests. Sigiriya, built in the 5th century AD, is not just an architectural marvel but also a symbol of a complex history marked by power struggles and artistic achievement. Cave's photograph, while visually descriptive, also embodies the colonial gaze, framing the ruins as objects of Western interest and study, rather than as living parts of Sri Lankan heritage. How do we contend with photography’s ability to reveal and conceal?