Who painted Calcutta. Old Court House Street?

Calcutta. Old Court House Street was painted by Samuel Bourne in 1866.

Where can I see Calcutta. Old Court House Street?

Calcutta. Old Court House Street is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Calcutta. Old Court House Street?

Calcutta. Old Court House Street is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Calcutta. Old Court House Street

Samuel Bourne , 1866

Calcutta. Old Court House Street is a photography by the Impressionist artist Samuel Bourne. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This 1860s photograph, part of a 50-image album, captures Old Court House Street in Calcutta (now Kolkata), depicting a bustling scene with horse-drawn carriages, pedestrians, and colonial-era architecture.

Subject & Meaning

The image serves as a historical time capsule, offering a firsthand visual record of Calcutta's urban landscape before the advent of 20th-century modernizations and restorations.

Technique & Style

The photograph is characterized by its sharp clarity, resembling an early postcard, and reflects the documentary precision typical of 19th-century architectural and travel photography.

History & Provenance

Taken by photographer Bourne as part of his extensive Indian subcontinent tour, this work is among the earliest photographic records of India's cities and monuments in their original state.

Context

Part of a broader collection including images of Lahore, Delhi, Lucknow, Agra, and Benares, this photograph is contextualized within a historical survey of South Asian urban and monumental architecture of the time.

Legacy

Now archived with related works at institutions like The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bourne's photographs, including this one, remain significant historical resources for understanding pre-20th-century Indian and colonial architecture.