Watermills at Sadda before 1895

"Watermills at Sadda" is a monochromatic print by Frederick Saint John Gore, made sometime between 1857 and 1903. Gore was an Anglo-Irish artist, part of a social class that experienced British imperialism firsthand. Gore’s landscapes often capture scenes from abroad. Here, the view of watermills and local figures evokes a sense of place, but also speaks to the power dynamics inherent in colonial representation. Notice how the artist frames the local people. They seem frozen in time. How does it feel to see their likeness captured through the lens of a foreign gaze? What does it mean to depict labor without truly understanding the lives and histories interwoven with it? By prompting us to consider these power dynamics, Gore's work, whether intentionally or not, engages with themes of cultural exchange, identity, and the politics of representation. It encourages a reflection on whose stories are told and how they are framed within the larger context of colonial history.