Who painted Dr. Morris and party, Jhansi (recto)?

Dr. Morris and party, Jhansi (recto) was painted by Raja Deen Dayal in 1884.

Where can I see Dr. Morris and party, Jhansi (recto)?

Dr. Morris and party, Jhansi (recto) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Dr. Morris and party, Jhansi (recto)?

Dr. Morris and party, Jhansi (recto) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Dr. Morris and party, Jhansi (recto)

Raja Deen Dayal , 1884

Dr. Morris and party, Jhansi (recto) 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 photograph is part of a disassembled album containing around 105 images taken in India between 1885 and 1887.

About this work

Most colonial pictures were made by Europeans; here, Raja Deen Dayal turns the lens back on the people who ran the empire.

You see a group of British officials and Indian servants standing stiffly in front of a tent in Jhansi.

This is one of the earliest photographs taken by an Indian photographer for British clients. Most colonial pictures were made by Europeans; here, Raja Deen Dayal turns the lens back on the people who ran the empire. The men look posed, but the light and shadows feel real.

To see more of India through Indian eyes, look up Raja Deen Dayal (Indian, 1844–1905).

Overview

This photograph is part of a disassembled album containing around 105 images taken in India between 1885 and 1887. The album documents the lives of British colonial officials and Indian royalty and upper classes.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts a group of British officials and Indian servants posing in front of a tent in Jhansi, offering a glimpse into the interactions between British colonizers and their Indian counterparts.

Technique & Style

The photograph is notable for its use of natural light and shadow, which creates a sense of authenticity despite the formal posing of the subjects.

History & Provenance

The album was likely commissioned by a British civil servant as a personal memento of their time in India around 1888, and was created by Raja Deen Dayal, a pioneering Indian photographer who worked for British clients.