A prince seated with three companions

The casual ease with which this friendly figure openly regards us is a sharp contrast to the other photographed subjects exhibited on this wall. He may be a young Indian prince, as the turban and prosperous interiors suggest, or a rich aristocrat relaxing with his companions after dinner. The figures around him slouch lazily in their seats or carry on their conversations, unperturbed by the presence of the camera.

This photograph appears to have been taken at a later date than most of the others displayed here. The unaffected postures of the subjects indicate that photography and being photographed had become natural to the Indian peoples. This photograph thus illustrates the trajectory that photography took on the Indian subcontinent—from its use by the British to record anthropological types to its appropriation as a personal tool to create remembrances.