Artwork

Shimla. The Yarrows and Neighboring Hills

Shimla. The Yarrows and Neighboring Hills, by Samuel Bourne, 1866
Shimla. The Yarrows and Neighboring Hills, by Samuel Bourne, 1866

Shimla. The Yarrows and Neighboring Hills 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. Shimla.

About this work

Overview

Shimla. The Yarrows and Neighboring Hills is a 19th-century photograph, one of 50 images in an album documenting hill towns and major cities across the Indian subcontinent in the 1860s.

Subject & Meaning

The photograph captures a serene hill town, likely Shimla, with soft light illuminating white houses set amidst dark trees, preserving a pre-modern vista.

Technique & Style

Printed from a glass negative, the image showcases early photographic capabilities, with crisp shadows and sharp edges, reminiscent of the chiaroscuro technique.

History & Provenance

Taken by Bourne in the 1860s, this photograph is part of a collection that includes architectural studies of notable monuments like the Taj Mahal and Delhi's imperial mosque, predating 20th-century restorations.

Context

The album's geographical scope spans from the Himalayan hill towns to key cities such as Lahore, Delhi, and Calcutta, providing a historical visual record of the region.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Samuel Bourne

Artist

Samuel Bourne

Samuel Bourne was a British photographer known for his prolific seven years' work in India, from 1863 to 1870.

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