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c. 1880s India - women carrying water in pots
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c. 1880s India - women carrying water in pots
c. 1880s India - image from an album of Indian types and trades designed to illustrate India to a British viewer - women carrying water in pots
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Media ID 23433858
Collodion Colony Cultural Ethnicity Ethnographic Labour Skill Albumen
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This image, captured in the late 1880s during the British Raj in India, offers a glimpse into the daily life of Indian women during this era. The photograph, part of an album of Indian types and trades, showcases the women carrying large earthen pots filled with water on their heads, a common practice in rural areas where water sources were often distant from homes. The women's traditional attire, including saris and bangles, adds to the ethnographic charm of the scene. The use of the collodion or wet plate process, a popular photographic technique during the 19th century, adds to the historic and cultural significance of the image. The colonial power's fascination with documenting the 'exotic' Indian culture is evident in the meticulous composition of the photograph. The women's stoic expressions and the symmetrical arrangement of the pots on their heads create a visually striking image that would have appealed to the British viewer's sense of curiosity and fascination with the 'other.' Despite the colonial context, the photograph provides a valuable record of the traditional water-carrying practice, which was an essential skill for Indian women in the absence of modern water supply systems. The image also highlights the resilience and hard work of these women, who carried heavy loads on their heads with remarkable grace and balance. Overall, this photograph offers a fascinating insight into the daily life and cultural practices of India during the 19th century, a time of significant social, political, and economic change.
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