Gezicht op een deur van een huis in Ahmedabad before 1885

This 19th-century photograph depicts a carved wooden door in Ahmedabad, India. The woodworker has transformed a humble material into a complex composition of texture and form. The weight and density of the wood are used to great effect, as the deeply carved panels project a sense of solidity and permanence. You can almost feel the presence of the hand tools – chisels and gouges – that shaped the intricate patterns. The photograph highlights the contrast between the open lattice of the windows and the densely ornamented central door. The door's elaborate surface invites tactile exploration, while simultaneously serving as a barrier, a threshold between public and private space. Consider the social context of this craftsmanship. The skilled labor required for such a door would have been considerable, indicating the patron’s wealth and status. This photograph invites us to reflect on the way that craft traditions are embedded in social hierarchies, where material objects become markers of cultural identity and economic power.