Entrance gate with mermaids at the Lakhi Darwaza of Qaisar Bagh in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India 1863 - 1865

Samuel Bourne made this albumen print of the Entrance gate with mermaids at the Lakhi Darwaza of Qaisar Bagh in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, at an unknown date. The photograph captures the ornate architecture of the gate, adorned with mermaid figures, reflecting the blending of European and Indian artistic styles prevalent in the 19th century. This fusion speaks to the cultural exchanges occurring under British colonial rule and the complex negotiations of identity and power that shaped artistic production in India at the time. The presence of European architectural elements alongside Indian motifs is indicative of the evolving social and political landscape, and how Indian elites were affected by the cultural norms of the British Empire. By consulting historical archives, travel accounts, and studies of colonial architecture, we can learn more about the history of art as something that is contingent on social and institutional context.