Street Scene, Madras
Note the diagonal leading the eye into a rich scene, the figures in the corners of the frame, the tethered cow on the left, the pots in the coals, the vibrancy of this human space under a hoisted banner.
Note the diagonal leading the eye into a rich scene, the figures in the corners of the frame, the tethered cow on the left, the pots in the coals, the vibrancy of this human space under a hoisted banner.
A very simply but effectively hand-tinted card: blue, yellow and a pink hue that connects the babies anklet and mother's right earrings.
An unusual early "Greetings from" card by Wiele & Klein, one of the leading photographic studios in South India. The woman looks slightly bored, if not irritated in this studio pose.
[Original caption] Madras, Cocoanut Oil Mills.
Possibly a dancer in a nicely hand-tinted postcard; note the red tip of the plant pointing to the lady.
A rich scene and well-preserved collotype to match, photographic in spontaneity and effect. One woman is glancing up from the pots, oblivious to another handing her one. Some men look at the camera, others walk by indifferent.
Historical records in Chennia mention Nungambakkam as one of the three villages (in addition to Egmore and Chetput) that the British East India Company purchased in 1743 to form the port city of Madras.
[Original caption] Madras, Holy Tank at Tirukalikunoram. Here in a great square court surrounded by people, palms, and neem-trees, we have one of the great Holy Tanks of Indian pilgrimage.
[Original caption] Mylapore Tank. Madras is built in a straggling fashion along the seashore. Most of the roads run between avenues and are flanked by groves of palms and other trees.
This particular card was mailed to France from Chennai on Dec. 25, 1900. Note the entire message is readable, but from what is seems to say:
[Unclear first word] "Happy new year, Mr. Francis. Really it is not cold here. Antoine."
[Original French,