What movement is Civil officers at Jhansi (recto); Mr. William's House, Jhansi (verso)?

Civil officers at Jhansi (recto); Mr. William's House, Jhansi (verso) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Civil officers at Jhansi (recto); Mr. William's House, Jhansi (verso)

Civil officers at Jhansi (recto); Mr. William's House, Jhansi (verso) is a photography by the Impressionist artist Raja Deen Dayal. It dates from 1884 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This double-sided photograph is part of a disassembled album containing around 105 images taken in India between 1885 and 1887.

About this work

Overview

This double-sided photograph is part of a disassembled album containing around 105 images taken in India between 1885 and 1887. The album was likely created as a personal souvenir for a British civil servant.

Subject & Meaning

The recto side depicts British civil officers in formal attire at Jhansi, while the verso side shows Mr. William's House, also in Jhansi. The images offer a glimpse into the lives of the British colonial elite in India during the late 19th century.

Technique & Style

The photographs were taken by an Indian court photographer, likely for British clients. The posed scenes and formal compositions suggest a deliberate and staged representation of colonial life, rather than candid or spontaneous moments.

History & Provenance

The album was probably commissioned around 1888. The museum holds another group of 37 photographs from the same album, indicating that it was later disassembled and dispersed.