Benares, Geometrical Figures Carved on Ancient Bhuddist Towers at Sarnath 1865 - 1866

Curator: Samuel Bourne's photographic print, "Benares, Geometrical Figures Carved on Ancient Bhuddist Towers at Sarnath," shows incredible detail given the limitations of photographic technology in the 19th century. Editor: It’s beautiful—almost haunting. The stone looks so tactile; I can practically feel the age and the weight of history in it. Curator: Bourne documented British colonial India, often focusing on architectural monuments. The labor involved in creating these carvings, both the original construction and Bourne's photographic process, reflects the social dynamics of the time. Editor: It's amazing to think of the hands that created that intricate geometry, and then Bourne capturing it on film—a collaboration across centuries. I wonder what those original artisans would have thought. Curator: Bourne's work was often commissioned by the British government, highlighting the intersection of artistic expression and colonial power structures. Editor: Knowing that gives the image a whole new layer of complexity, doesn't it? Makes you think about who gets to tell the story. Curator: Precisely. It’s a powerful reminder of art's role in shaping historical narratives. Editor: Absolutely, a powerful image that prompts so many reflections.