Art gallery exhibition offers glimpse into India’s architectural wonders

For history buffs and photography enthusiasts alike, a rare treat has opened in the heart of the Capital. The ‘Histories in the Making’ exhibition at the Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) offers a unique glimpse into India’s architectural wonders as captured by pioneering photographers from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Curated from the DAG’s archives, the collection features the works of British and Indian photographers who immortalised iconic Indian monuments long before modern technology made such documentation commonplace. The exhibition is open till October 12.

A look into history of photography

The exhibition explores not just the monuments, but the very history of photography itself. Many images reflect the photographers’ sociality and artistic intent, not just their technical expertise. — Sudheshna Guha, Curator

The exhibition showcases over a century’s worth of photographs, beginning with the very first images of Indian monuments captured by photographers such as Samuel Bourne, Felice Beato, Thomas Biggs and Deen Dayal. These images, some dating back to the 1850s, offer a compelling narrative of both photography’s evolution and India’s colonial-era architecture.

Curator Sudheshna Guha, a former research associate at the University of Cambridge’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, explaining the significance of the exhibition, said, “The show begins from 1855, as it showcases the earliest photographs of Indian monuments. These include works by photographers, including Biggs and William Pigou, who captured the first-ever images of India’s ancient structures. Despite photography being invented in 1839, the first monument photos were not taken until 1855. It is fascinating to see how these early photographers balanced artistry and technology in such an uncharted territory.”

The photographs on display offer more than just a visual documentation of India’s heritage. As Guha explained, “The exhibition explores not just the monuments, but the very history of photography itself. There has not been a show in India that connects photography and archaeology in this way, especially one that highlights the early 20th century. Many of the images reflect the photographers’ sociality and artistic intent, not just their technical expertise.”

One of the most striking elements of the exhibition is how the images reflect the differing perspectives of their creators. British photographers often approached their subjects from a colonial viewpoint, while Indian photographers offered a more nuanced interaction with the same landscapes and monuments. The works on display cover diverse locations, including Delhi, Kolkata, Agra, Sanchi, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Kashmir.

Guha also highlighted the meticulous preservation of these photographs, stating, “These images are extremely well-preserved, which allows us to appreciate the aesthetic and technical aspects of early photography. For example, the negatives from John Murray’s photographs of Agra are among the best-preserved paper negatives from that era. This level of preservation helps us delve into the longstanding debate about whether photography was more of an art or a science.”

In addition to the photographs, the exhibition includes postcards, a popular medium of the time, which Guha said began circulating around 1896. She shared some lesser-known stories about the challenges early photographers faced.

“Photographers such as David Lyon had to use reflective light from aluminium sheets to capture the long corridors of the Rameshwaram Temple,” she said, illustrating the experimental nature of the 19th-century photography.

One particularly arresting image is a panoramic view of Delhi from the Jama Masjid, taken by Italian-British photographer Felice Beato in the aftermath of the 1857 revolt. It reveals an eerie absence of people, offering a haunting perspective on Delhi during that tumultuous period.

Visitors were equally impressed by the historical richness and artistic depth of the photographs. Arpan, who visited on Friday, shared, “It’s not just about the photographs themselves, but how they make you reflect on the passage of time and the evolution of these places. Seeing the early documentation of Sanchi and Hampi was incredible.”

Even international visitors were captivated by the exhibition’s historical depth. David Islas, a visitor from Mexico, said, “I enjoyed the exhibit greatly, especially from a historical perspective. As someone who’s passionate about photography, it was fascinating to see how the functions of these early photographers differed from our approach today. The images of Raigad Fort stood out to me.”