Artwork

India. Calcutta. Upper Chitpore Road (A), after photo by Dr. Kurt Boeck

Photoglob Co. , 1900

India. Calcutta. Upper Chitpore Road (A), after photo by Dr. Kurt Boeck is a photography by the Impressionist artist Photoglob Co.. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This photograph captures a vibrant street scene in early 20th-century Calcutta, showcasing everyday life in a bustling urban setting.

Accession no.: 2019.187
Credit line: Gift of Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Barbara Timmer

About this work

You see a crowded street in Calcutta, packed with people, carts, and buildings under a bright sky.

You see a crowded street in Calcutta, packed with people, carts, and buildings under a bright sky.

This photo feels alive because the people aren’t posing, they’re just going about their day. It was made from a black-and-white negative taken by a German traveler, then colored later. Most old photos of India from this time were stiff and staged, but this one isn’t.

If you like this, look up more photos tagged india, 19th century.

Overview

This photograph captures a vibrant street scene in early 20th-century Calcutta, showcasing everyday life in a bustling urban setting.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts a crowded street corner, with people, carts, and buildings under a bright sky, offering a candid glimpse into the daily activities of the time.

Technique & Style

The color photograph was created from a black-and-white negative taken by Dr. Kurt Boeck, a German traveler, and later hand-colored, resulting in a lively and unposed representation of the scene.

History & Provenance

Dr. Kurt Boeck, a German actor, mountain climber, and travel writer, captured the original black-and-white negative, which was later colored to produce this image.