Artwork

Mr. MacNull, Jhansi (verso)

Mr. MacNull, Jhansi (verso), by Raja Deen Dayal, 1884
Mr. MacNull, Jhansi (verso), by Raja Deen Dayal, 1884

Mr. MacNull, 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. Mr.

About this work

Overview

Mr. MacNull, Jhansi (verso) is a late 19th-century photograph from a disassembled album of approximately 105 images documenting British colonial life and interactions with Indian royalty and upper classes between 1885 and 1887.

Subject & Meaning

The photograph depicts Mr. MacNull, presumably a British official, posed formally against a plain backdrop, holding a hat. His attire and demeanor reflect the colonial elite's norms.

Technique & Style

Characterized by soft focus and faded edges, the photograph exhibits the aesthetic and technical qualities typical of personal, souvenir-style travel photography from the late 19th century.

History & Provenance

Originally part of a private album likely commissioned by a British civil servant around 1888 as a personal memento, the photograph is now part of a museum collection, with a related set of 37 images (2016.266) also held by the institution.

Context

Created during the British colonial rule in India, the photograph represents a colonial perspective, capturing the lives of the ruling elite rather than the indigenous population.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Raja Deen Dayal

Artist

Raja Deen Dayal

Raja Lala Deen Dayal, famously known as Raja Deen Dayal) was an Indian photographer.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.