Who painted Mr. William's House, Jhansi (verso)?

Mr. William's House, Jhansi (verso) was painted by Raja Deen Dayal in 1884.

Where can I see Mr. William's House, Jhansi (verso)?

Mr. William's House, Jhansi (verso) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Mr. William's House, Jhansi (verso)?

Mr. William's House, Jhansi (verso) is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Mr. William's House, Jhansi (verso)

Raja Deen Dayal , 1884

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. Mr.

About this work

You see a two-story house with a wide porch, trees in the yard, and a man in a white suit standing on the steps.

You see a two-story house with a wide porch, trees in the yard, and a man in a white suit standing on the steps.

This is one of the earliest photographs of British colonial life in India taken by an Indian photographer. Most pictures from this time were made by Europeans. Raja Deen Dayal worked for Indian royalty and British officials, so his lens shows both sides of the empire.

To see more of his work, look up Raja Deen Dayal (Indian, 1844–1905).

Overview

Mr. William's House, Jhansi (verso) is a photograph from a disassembled album of approximately 105 images, documenting British colonial elite and Indian royal/upper-class life in India between 1885 and summer 1887.

Subject & Meaning

The photograph depicts a two-story residence with a broad porch, surrounded by trees, and features a man in a white suit standing on the steps. As an early example of Indian colonial life captured by an Indian photographer, it offers a distinctive perspective, contrasting with the predominantly European-produced imagery of the time.

Technique & Style

Attributed to Raja Deen Dayal, the work reflects his dual experience serving both Indian royalty and British officials, resulting in a nuanced visual representation of the empire’s complexities.

History & Provenance

Originally part of an 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

Notable for being among the earliest photographs of British colonial life in India taken by an Indian photographer, it highlights Raja Deen Dayal’s (1844–1905) significant contribution to documenting this period from a native perspective.