Delhi, View of the City from the Jumma Masjid 1863 - 1866

Curator: This is Samuel Bourne's "Delhi, View of the City from the Jumma Masjid." Bourne, who lived from 1834 to 1912, captured this image of Delhi from the mosque. Editor: It's strikingly desolate. The wide, empty courtyard contrasts so sharply with the densely packed city on the horizon. It speaks of imposed order, a visual representation of power. Curator: Bourne's photography often served colonial interests, documenting landscapes and architecture for British audiences. The Jumma Masjid, a significant Mughal structure, becomes a vantage point, framing the Indian city below. Editor: Exactly. The photograph isn’t just a neutral depiction; it's an act of claiming space, literally looking down upon the city and its inhabitants. The emptiness amplifies that sense of control. Curator: It does offer a glimpse into the urban planning of Delhi at the time, though, showing the intricate network of buildings nestled together. Editor: But through a very specific, colonial lens. It's a reminder that even seemingly objective images carry inherent biases and power dynamics. That negative space feels like a loaded silence.