Portret van een onbekende Khamti man uit Assam before 1868

This photographic portrait of an unknown Khamti man from Assam was made by Benjamin Simpson. The image is a product of photographic processes that were developed in the 19th century, and the end result bears the marks of a meticulous process of selection, posing, and printing. Simpson’s work offers insight into the intersection of photography and colonial interests, and the creation of visual representations of indigenous populations. Note that the caption refers to the sitter’s community as a "wild frontier tribe.” This description has obviously been applied by the photographer, and tells us something about the colonial gaze at play here. The photograph itself would have required time, expertise, and expensive equipment. It stands in stark contrast to the ways that the Khamti man would have usually been portrayed, perhaps in a quick sketch. Considering the material properties, processes, and social context, and how this challenges traditional distinctions between art and craft can lead to a richer understanding of images like this one.