Vier onbekende mannen van het Sadh geloof voor een gevel met een luik before 1874

This albumen print shows four men of the Sadh sect in Rajputana, and was made by Shepherd and Robertson. In British India, photography was often used by the colonial government and institutions such as the Archaeological Survey to record and classify native populations and their cultural practices. This image is labeled “Sadhs, Hindoo Sect.” and such images served to define and differentiate social and religious groups for administrative purposes. The composition, with three figures seated and one standing, and the backdrop of a plain wall with a shuttered window, suggests a carefully arranged scene, intended to provide a clear visual record of these men and their attire. Understanding the intent and context of such photographs requires careful study of the colonial archive. By examining records of the photographers, the commissioning bodies, and the circulation of these images, we can better understand the complex power dynamics at play in the visual representation of Indian society during the colonial era.