The Viceregal Council
1884
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1884
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Here’s a group of men in formal coats and turbans, posed stiffly around a long table. The room is dim, with heavy curtains and a single lamp casting sharp shadows. This isn’t just a portrait—it’s a photograph from the 1880s, rare for its time in India. Raja Deen Dayal was one of the first Indian photographers to document British colonial life, blending local and foreign customs in one frame. The men’s expressions are serious, almost frozen, hinting at the tension of power and tradition. Look up more of Raja Deen Dayal (Indian, 1844–1905) to see how he framed India’s past.
